Mudflat hiking in the Wadden Sea is one of the most memorable activities in the Netherlands.
The overwhelming tranquility of the Wadden Sea makes mudflat hiking an unforgettable experience.
Mudflat hiking is one of the most memorable activities in the Netherlands
The best Wadden Sea mudflat hikes are between the mainland of Groningen and Ameland or Schiermonnikoog. You can also walk to sandbanks like Engelsmanplaat or Simonszand or depart from these sandbanks. Short mudflat hikes close to the mainland of Groningen are also possible.
The Wadden Sea is one of the last remaining areas in the Netherlands, where natural processes have remained largely undisturbed.
As a result, the Wadden Sea is an area where you hear nothing but the sound of the wind and the birds. I find the Wadden Sea beautiful, just beautiful….!
Mudflat Hiking 2024
There is a reason that the Wadden Sea is one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites in The Netherlands. The Wadden Sea is that special….!
Where Can I Book A Mudflat Hike?
Several companies organize these mudflat hikes over the Wadden Sea. Therefore, you can always find a suitable mudflat hike for yourself and your physical condition.
I highly recommend using an experienced guide because mudflat walking on your own can be hazardous if you get lost when the tide comes back in again.
These guides will get you safely over the Wadden Sea mudflats to reach your destination before the tide returns.
The companies below all offer guided mudflat hikes in the Wadden Sea.
- Wadloopcentrum Pieterburen
- Address: Haven 20, 9976 VN Lauwersoog, Tel: 0595 – 528 300
- Hikes to Ameland, Schiermonnikoog en Rottumeroog
- Hikes to and from sandbanks as Engelsmanplaat, Simonszand and Brakzand
- Several short roundtrip hikes closer to the shore
- Wadlopen-Pieterburen.nl
- Address: Hoofdstraat 84, 9968 AG Pieterburen. Tel: 0595-528558 / 528203
- Hikes to Ameland, Schiermonnikoog
- Several short roundtrip hikes closer to the shore
- Wadgids.nl (Dutch website)
- Address: Notweg 18, 9891 BR Ezinge, [email protected]
- Hikes to Ameland, Schiermonnikoog en Rottumeroog
- Hikes to and from sandbanks as Engelsmanplaat, Simonszand, and Brakzand
- Several short roundtrip hikes closer to the shore
- Dijkstra Wadlooptochten
- Address: Hoofdstraat 118, 9968 Pieterburen, Tel: 0595-52834
- Hikes to Ameland, Schiermonnikoog
- Hikes to and from sandbanks as Brakzand
- Several short roundtrip hikes closer to the shore
- Wadloopcentrum Fryslan
- Address: Baron van Sytzamawei 10, 9105 LH Rinsumageest, Tel: 0519 – 242 100
- Hikes to Ameland, Schiermonnikoog en Rottumeroog
- Hikes to and from sandbanks as Engelsmanplaat, Simonszand, and Brakzand
- Several short roundtrip hikes closer to the shore
- Waddenschipper.com
- Contact: [email protected]. 06 – 2299 6576
- Several combinations of boating and hiking trips
Map Of Best Mudflat Hikes
On the map below, you will find the locations of the best mudflat hikes in the Wadden Sea and the organizations where you can hire a guide for a mudflat hike.
How Much Does A Guided Mudflat Hike Cost?
The cost of a guided mudflat hike in the Wadden Sea depends on the type of mudflat hike. The longer the mudflat hike, the more it will cost.
Prices of mudflat hikes in the Wadden Sea in 2022 are:
- The short mudflat hikes close to the mainland last 2-3 hours and cost € 10-15 per person.
- The mudflat hikes to Ameland and Schiermonnikoog usually cost € 30-40 per person (including the ferry back to the mainland). These mudflat hikes will take 3-5 hours.
- The hikes to Rottumeroog are the most expensive and cost € 60-70 per person (including the specially chartered boat to bring you back to the mainland). The walking time will be close to 4 hours, and the boat trip back will also take about 4 hours.
You will have to cross muddy parts, making the hike much more difficult
How Challenging Is Mudflat Hiking?
Mudflat hiking in the Wadden Sea is not easy.
Walking over the mudflats can be challenging because the underground will not always be solid hard sand. You will have to cross muddy parts, making the hike much more difficult. Sometimes, you will have to wade through the water, and the water can easily reach your waist.
Therefore, you must honestly assess your physical fitness and ask yourself if you are fit enough for a particular hike. There is no shame in admitting that a mudflat hike may be too much for you. The good thing is that these hikes can often be tailor-made.
For example, the mudflat hikes to Schiermonnikoog are challenging if you depart directly from the shore. However, it is also possible to have a boat drop you off halfway at a sandbank, Brakzand, from which the remaining mudflat hike to Terschelling will be easier, and you will still be able to experience the feeling of walking over the Wadden Sea.
Is Mudflat Hiking In The Wadden Sea Safe?
You may wonder if walking over the mudflats is safe because you must finish your hike before the tide returns.
Mudflat Hiking in the Wadden Sea is safe, provided you adhere to two conditions. First, don’t go mudflat hiking without an experienced guide. Second, be honest about your physical condition.
Never go mudflat hiking in the Wadden Sea without an experienced guide. You want to avoid getting lost on the mudflats or end up in an area of the Wadden Sea with deep gullies between the sandbanks.
Is your physical condition honestly good enough to hike over the mudflats? You should avoid being so tired halfway through that you can barely move forward anymore.
You need to finish the mudflat hike and can’t give up when you are halfway.
You can also go mudflat hiking in the winter, particularly shorter mudflat hikes close to the mainland.
Is Mudflat Hiking Possible In The Winter?
At first glance, mudflat hiking in the Wadden Sea seems only suitable for the summer with warmer weather.
You can also go mudflat hiking in the winter, particularly shorter mudflat hikes close to the mainland. A mudflat hike to Ameland or Schiermonnikoog is also possible in the winter, provided you are equipped with protective clothing to keep you warm (surf suit and shoes).
Protective clothing to stay as warm as possible is a prerequisite for the longer hikes from the mainland to the islands. However, for the shorter mudflat hikes near the mainland, you only need gummy boots to keep warm and dry feet.
The advantage of a mudflat hiking trip in the winter is that it will be much quieter. Therefore, you can experience the beauty of the Wadden Sea even more.
Hiking over the Wadden Sea mudflats is fun and an experience you will never forget
Is Mudflat Hiking In The Wadden Sea Fun?
And finally, let’s answer the most important question: Is mudflat hiking in the Wadden fun?
Hiking over the Wadden Sea mudflats is fun and an experience you will never forget. The vast space of the Wadden Sea is overwhelming. It is wonderful to walk in that endless universe and not hear any cars because there is no place left in The Netherlands where that is possible.
I found the vast space and peace of the Wadden Sea overwhelming. Mudflat hiking is absolutely one of the 30 most fun things to do in The Netherlands.
Almost everyone I know who has ever participated in a mudflat hike comes back with beautiful memories of this activity. However, I also heard from nearly everyone that it was more challenging than they had thought.
Hence, my warning is to be honest about your physical condition. It is not a shame to let a boat drop you on a sandbank halfway when you doubt whether you are fit enough to walk from Groningen to Ameland or Terschelling.
Are There Special Mudflat Hikes In The Wadden Sea?
There are several types of mudflat hikes in The Wadden Sea possible.
Short roundtrip hikes near the mainland are an excellent way to experience walking over the bottom of the Wadden Sea for the first time or undertake this activity with younger children (> 4 years of age).
In addition, you can wear rubber boots during these short hikes because you will not have to cross deeper parts. That is a major advantage because you can keep your feet dry while walking over the sea’s bottom.
The guides will tell you about the fascinating nature, and you will get that special Wadden Sea feeling. These short roundtrip hikes are organized at various places throughout the Wadden Sea and offered by all organizations so that you can pick a time, location, and date that is suitable for you.
The hike to Rottemeroog will get you through the most pristine part of the Wadden Sea
Hike to Rottumeroog. Rottumeroog is an uninhabited island in the eastern part of the Dutch Wadden Sea, and you will have to be brought back from the island with a specially chartered boat.
The hike to Rottemeroog will get you through the most pristine part of the Wadden Sea, where human beings can only be guests for a little while until the tide returns.
Hikes to Rottumeroog are limited because this part is a protected national park, and this hike is one of the most special mudflat hikes possible. On the boat trip back to the coast, you can spot lots of seals on the sandbanks east of Rottumeroog.
Roundtrip hikes to Ameland and the hike to Terschelling. These hikes are the longest and most challenging of all hikes over the mudflats that are possible. You have to be very fit to be allowed to start these hikes.
You have to finish the roundtrip hike to Ameland first and keep up with the speed of the (very fit) guides before participating in a mudflat hike to Terschelling. But if you finish these hikes, you can consider yourself a mud-iron man or woman.
Accommodations Near the Mudflat Hikes
It is quite a drive from the west of the Netherlands to get to the starting points of the mudflats hikes. You don’t do that easily on a day trip, especially since you must also drive back when tired.
You can book a hotel for 1-2 nights near the mudflats or go mudflat hiking during your vacation in the north of the Netherlands.
If you want to stay 1-2 nights, I recommend you look for a hotel in Lauwersoog, a village next to the departure points of many mudflat hikes. In or near Lauwersoog are several hotels and B&Bs rated as very good.
For example, Logement Schierzicht (9,1/10) in Lauwersoog and Hotel Toxopeus (8,6/10) in Anjum have excellent guest reviews.
A good alternative is to book a hotel room in Dokkum
To avoid disappointments, book a hotel room in Lauwersoog well in advance because mudflat hiking is quite popular, and many mudflat hikers want to spend a few nights in the area. Therefore, hotel rooms in and near Lauwersoog can be scarce, and hotels fill up quickly.
If hotel rooms in Lauwersoog are not available anymore, a good alternative is to book a hotel room in Dokkum, a charming town in northern Friesland with more hotels. From Dokkum, it is a 15-minute drive to the starting points of the mudflat hikes.
Hotel de Abdij (9,1/10) and Hotel van der Meer (8,9/10) in Dokkum have excellent guest reviews.
As with Lauwersoog, I recommend booking a hotel room in Dokkum well in advance to avoid disappointment. You’ll be surprised how popular mudflat hiking is.
Some people will want to go mudflat hiking during a vacation in the northern Netherlands. Therefore, I have listed several excellent resorts near the mudflats in case you consider a holiday in the Northern Netherlands.
- Natuurdorp Suyderoogh is located in the middle of the National Park Lauwersmeer and is a paradise for nature lovers. This area is an unknown but stunningly beautiful part of the Netherlands.
- Esonstad is a beautiful vacation park with houses and apartments in old Frisian style, located on the other side of the Lauwersmeer.
- Baayvilla’s in Lauwersoog is a new small resort overlooking the Lauwersmeer but within walking distance of the Wadden Sea. All luxurious villas have spectacular lakeside views.
National Park Lauwersmeer is an unknown but stunningly beautiful part of the Netherlands
Of course, you can also vacation on Ameland or Schiermonnikoog, take the boat to the mainland in the morning, and then hike back to the island.
- On Ameland, vacation park Ameland State is a good choice because it is located a stone’s throw from the beautiful beaches of Ameland.
- On the beautiful Schiermonnikoog (a national park) lies the apartment complex Vitamaris with modern and comfortable apartments.
A little further away from the mudflats is Hof van Saksen which I still want to mention here because I believe that Hof van Saksen is the most beautiful resort in the north of The Netherlands.
- You can visit the Hof van Saksen website for more information.
You will have to wade through water with the water reaching up to your waist
What Is A Good Video About Mudflat Hiking?
The video below will give you a good impression of what mudflat hiking is in reality. This hike from Holwerd to Ameland is a relatively easy mudflat hike. However, you will see that you will still have to cross rather muddy parts and wade through deep water with the water reaching up to your waist.
I strongly encourage you to watch this YouTube video because you can find out if mudflat hiking is something for you in just a few minutes.
Altogether, mudflat hiking in the Wadden Sea is quite an experience, and I believe you should seriously consider undertaking this adventure if you are fit enough. It is one of the best day trips possible in The Netherlands.
Read this article if you want inspiration for other fun day trips.
