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Ameland

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Overview

Ameland (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈaːməlɑnt] ; West Frisian: It Amelân [ət ˈaːməlɔ̃ːn]) is a municipality and one of the West Frisian Islands off the north coast of the Netherlands. It consists mostly of sand dunes and is the third major island of the West Frisians. It neighbours islands Terschelling to the west and Schiermonnikoog to the east. This includes the small Engelsmanplaat and Rif sandbanks to the east.

Ameland is, counted from the west, the fourth inhabited Dutch Wadden island and belongs to the Friesland (Fryslân) province. The whole island falls under one municipality, which carries the same name. The Wadden islands form the border between the North Sea and the Wadden Sea, which lies on the south side of the island file. The municipality of Ameland had a population of 3,746 in 2021. The inhabitants are called Amelanders.

Facts

Rank

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Coordinates

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Source

WBP almanac

External sources

Wikivoyage Wikipedia

Media

From Wikipedia1,001 words

WBP editorial3

A cyclist’s island‑scale itinerary

The compact shape of Ameland makes it ideal for a relaxed, self‑guided bike tour that feels more like a countryside ride than a holiday scramble. Start at the village of Nes, where the historic harbour still serves local fishermen, then follow the low‑lying dykes that ring the island’s perimeter. The route offers intermittent vistas of tidal flats and wind‑blown dunes, punctuated by small farms where you can sample bruinport, a local cheese, straight from the cellar. A detour inland leads to the Sorgdrager museum, an evocative glimpse of rural life, before you loop back along the eastern side, stopping at the lighthouse for a panoramic sea view. The total distance is under 30 kilometres, comfortably done over a single day, with plenty of cafés offering warm lemonade in summer and hot pea soup in winter.

Seasonal rhythms beyond the beach

While the sandbars of Ameland attract sun‑seekers in July, the island’s true character emerges with the tides. In late autumn, the receding waters reveal expansive mudflats that are a haven for birdwatchers; the Ramsar‑designated wetlands host flocks of bar-tailed godwits and avocets against a backdrop of muted skies. Winter brings a quiet that encourages reflective walks along the dunes, where the wind shapes the sand into ever‑changing sculptures. Spring is marked by a subtle bloom of sea lavender, and the local market in Buren showcases freshly‑caught herring, still being smoked in traditional kilns. Timing your visit to coincide with these natural cycles offers a deeper sense of place than the typical summer beach calendar.

Local flavour: culinary customs you’ll miss elsewhere

Ameland’s gastronomy is anchored in its maritime heritage, yet it resists the tourist‑friendly fast‑food narrative. Small family‑run eateries serve up “skûtsjesprong,” a stew of smoked eel, locally sourced potatoes, and a splash of Friesland’s own prototypical gin. The island’s limited dairy farms produce a semi‑hard cheese with a faint herbal note, best enjoyed on a slice of rye bread alongside a glass of farm‑grown apple cider. During the annual harvest festival, residents gather in communal barns to bake “bøffeln,” a spiced raisin cake whose recipe has been handed down through generations. Engaging with these modest dishes provides insight into a community that balances self‑sufficiency with the rhythms of the North Sea.

Introduction

Municipality and island of the Netherlands This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: "Ameland" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (May 2015) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Municipality in Friesland, NetherlandsAmeland It AmelânMunicipalityAerial view Ameland (west)Ameland BeachMuseum SorgdragerLighthouseMaritime Museum FlagCoat of armsLocation in FrieslandCoordinates: 53°27′N 5°46′E / 53.450°N 5.767°E / 53.450; 5.767CountryNetherlandsProvinceFrieslandGovernment • BodyMunicipal council • MayorLeo Pieter Stoel [nl] (VVD)Area • Total268.50 km2 (103.67 sq mi) • Land59.11 km2 (22.82 sq mi) • Water209.39 km2 (80.85 sq mi)Elevation4 m (13 ft)Population (January 2021) • Total3,746 • Density63/km2 (160/sq mi)DemonymAmelanderTime zoneUTC+1 (CET) • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)Postcode9160–9164Area code0519Websitewww.ameland.nlRamsar WetlandOfficial nameDuinen AmelandDesignated29 August 2000Reference no.2212 Topographic map of Ameland, February 2024 Historical population 1800–2023 Aerial photograph of Ameland Ameland (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈaːməlɑnt] ⓘ; West Frisian: It Amelân [ət ˈaːməlɔ̃ːn]) is a municipality and one of the West Frisian Islands off the north coast of the Netherlands. It consists mostly of sand dunes and is the third major island of the West Frisians. It neighbours islands Terschelling to the west and Schiermonnikoog to the east. This includes the small Engelsmanplaat and Rif sandbanks to the east. Ameland is, counted from the west, the fourth inhabited Dutch Wadden island and belongs to the Friesland (Fryslân) province. The whole island falls under one municipality, which carries the same name. The Wadden islands form the border between the North Sea and the Wadden Sea, which lies on the south side of the island file. The municipality of Ameland had a population of 3,746 in 2021. The inhabitants are called Amelanders.

Places

[edit] The island has four villages, and one small part-village. There were two other villages: Sier and Oerd. Sier was burried by advancing sand dunes, with the last house being abandoned around 1730, and Oerd was flooded in the first half of the 18th century. The names of these villages live on in MS Oerd and MS Sier, which are the names of the ferries to the island. From west to east: Hollum, the most populated village, located on the west coast, home to the island's lighthouse Ballum, smallest village, location of the island's airfield, Ameland Airport Nes, the second largest of the island, a vibrant tourist village with many hotels, also home to Burgemeester Waldaschool (the island's secondary school), and ferry services from Holwert on the mainland Buren, located at the centre of the island, includes Ameland's beach

History

[edit] First mentioned as Ambla in the 8th century, it paid tribute to the county of Holland until in 1424 its lord, Ritske Jelmera, declared it a "free lordship" (vrijheerschap): the Lordship of Ameland. Although Holland, Friesland and the Holy Roman Emperor contested this quasi-independent status, it remained a free lordship until the ruling family, Cammingha, died out in 1708. After that, the Frisian stadtholder John William Friso, Prince of Orange, became lord of Ameland and after him, his son the stadtholder of all the Netherlands, William IV, Prince of Orange, and his grandson, William V, Prince of Orange. Only in the constitution of 1813 was the island finally integrated into the Netherlands into the province of Friesland. The monarchy of the Netherlands still maintain the title Vrijheer van Ameland today. In 1871–72, a dike was built between Ameland and the mainland by a society for the reclamation of Frisian land from the sea. The dike ran from Holwert to Buren and was 8.7 km (5 mi) long. The province and the Dutch realm each paid 200,000 guilders. In the end, it was unsuccessful; the dike did not prove to be durable and in 1882, after heavy storms in the winter, repairs and maintenance of the dam were stopped. The dike can still be partially seen at low tide. The dam at Holwert is the beginning of this dike. In 1940, German troops were ferried to the island and within hours Ameland was under the control of the German Army. Due to its limited military value, the Allies never invaded Ameland. The German forces on the island did not surrender until 2 June 1945, almost a full month after the defeat of Nazi Germany.[citation needed] 2023 MV Fremantle Highway fire[edit] Main article: MV Fremantle Highway § 2023 fire In July 2023, a fire on the Panamanian flagged cargo ship MV Fremantle Highway carrying over 3,700 cars off the coast of Ameland left one sailor dead and 22 others injured.

Nature

[edit] Like all West and East Frisian Islands, Ameland is a unique piece of nature. The profusion of different plants on the island is caused by the immense variety of landscapes. One of the scenic areas is the Oerd, a large complex of dunes which is still expanding by the year. Because of the differing landscapes and types of flora, over 60 different species of birds are sitting there every year. At the eastern part of the Oerd lies a beach plain called the Hon. Besides dunes and beaches, Ameland has some woods, like the Nesser bos ("Wood of Nes").

Notable people

[edit] Statue of Hidde Dirks Kat The following people were born on Ameland: Ritske Jelmera (1383 in Ternaard – 1450) a Frisian chieftain who ruled the island of Ameland Hidde Dirks Kat [de], whaler Johannes de Jong (1885 in Nes – 1955), Archbishop of Utrecht 1936/1955 Hannes de Boer (1899 in Hollum – 1982), long jumper, participated in the 1924 and 1928 Olympic Games Sjoerd Soeters (born 1947 in Nes), postmodern architect Pieter Mosterman (born 1967 in Nes), a research Scientist and academic in the USA Jan Bruin (born 1969 in Hollum), retired Dutch soccer player.