Meet the Wadden Islands!

Tucked between the Den Helder region and Denmark, these 50 little dots stretch across the northern coast of the country like a strand of precious pearls.

Still wonderfully under the radar, there are five main islands at your fingertips, each with its own unique charm:

• Texel is the largest and most accessible of the Wadden Islands, and it’s got a little bit of everything.
• Vlieland is the peaceful one — small and wonderfully quiet.
• Terschelling has a bit of wild spirit. It’s popular with both nature lovers and festivalgoers, and it's home to the famous Oerol Festival, where the whole island becomes a stage.
• Ameland feels like a postcard brought to life — picture horse-drawn carts, historic windmills, and nature reserves rich with birdlife. 
• Schiermonnikoog is the smallest, the quietest, and maybe the most magical of them all — just know that the entire island is a national park.

Cars are restricted or entirely banned on most islands, which means (in pure Dutch fashion) cycling is the main mode of transport! Picture breezy rides past sheep-dotted meadows, pine forests, and sandy dunes, with the sea never far from view.

Though, it's not all about beaches and bikes here — especially around Texel and Terschelling, you can hop on a seal-spotting tour, or try your hand at windsurfing, kite surfing, or even paddle boarding

But if you're up for something truly unique, try the signature Wadden activity: wadlopen. Literally mudflat hiking, you'll basically walk across the sea floor at low tide: it's muddy, a bit challenging, but seriously fun.

As if all that weren’t enough, the Wadden Sea itself is a UNESCO World Heritage site, recognized for its unique and fragile ecosystem — birdwatchers and nature lovers, assemble!

And of course, since they're all soooooo close to each other, island hopping is definitely an option :-)