We frequently visit the small island of Ameland off the north coast of the Netherlands. (Click the link for a Google Map:
https://goo.gl/maps/u2vrw ) My in-laws own a small vacation home there, and it's a nice place to spend the weekends or even the Summer holidays.
Ameland is part of the Wadden Islands or Frisian Islands, which form an archipelago at the eastern edge of the North Sea in northwestern Europe, stretching from the north-west of the Netherlands through Germany to the west of Denmark. The Wadden Sea is the largest tidal area in the world and the largest contiguous nature reserve in Western Europe.
Ameland had a population of 3,591 in 2014, living in the villages of Nes, Buren, Ballum and Hollum, but over 400,000 tourists visit it every year. A lot of them German.
The beaches are wide and the North Sea is always a treat. The east side of the island isn't inhabited and home to one the most beautiful natural landscapes in the Netherlands.
The Oerd is basically a large complex of dunes which is still expanding by the year.
Besides dunes and beaches, Ameland has some woods, like the Nesser bos ("Wood of Nes"). Our vacation home is located in between the Wood of Nes, the beach and The Oerd.
See also:
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1314
Here's a sample of the photographs I've taken there over the past couple of years or so. Enjoy!
1. We often go for a drink or something to eat in this beach pavilion.
2
3 The Wood of Nes. Patches of forrest on the island are cultivated and protected. Best way to prevent the wind from blowing the sandy soil into the sea.
4. La Chouffe...probably my favorite beer to drink after a long beach walk.
5.
6. Skyscraper in the village of Nes.
Not a church tower, but a clock tower. Pretty old.
7. 't Badhuys ('bathing house') in Nes. All villages on the island look like this. Small, ancient houses, well maintained.
8. My baby girl loves the beach, just like her dad.
9. Taking a hike in The Oerd sometimes means this is all you get to see. You always hear the surf and the many, many birds.
10. View from the highest dune on the island, the
Oerdblinkert, framed by National Graphic.
11. The lighthouse
Bornrif stands tall on the west side of the island. One of the oldest in the Netherlands.
12.
13. The mainland isn't far away; here in the background you can see Friesland on the horizon.
14. Nothing beats taking an evening stroll to the beach and enjoy the sunset with friends of family and a bottle of wine.
15. Vacation home (not ours) near Nes.
16. The Oerd again.
17. The Nature Center Ameland is not the most eye pleasing contribution to the island. Fun to visit when it rains though.
18. Ameland didn't become part of the Netherlands until 1813. In 1699 it was an independent principality.
19. The greatest show on earth.
20. A pheasant in our backyard. Deer and rabbits also stop by now and again.
21. Bridle path through the dunes.
22. This was taken on the New Years Day. I love the beach like this.
23.
24. European beach grass or
helm als the Dutch call it.
25. A bench on top of a dune close to the village of Buren.
26.
27. Dunes in the Oerd.
28. The same beach pavilion as the first image, the
Buren van Nes.
29. Pheasant dropping by again.
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30. Hortensia in the village of Hollum.
* to be continued*