West Frisian Islands
Chain of islands off the north coast of the Netherlands
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The West Frisian Islands (Dutch: Waddeneilanden, pronounced [ˈʋɑdə(n)ˌɛilɑndə(n)] ⓘ; West Frisian: Waadeilannen) are a chain of islands in the North Sea off the northern Dutch coast, along the edge of the Wadden Sea. They continue further east as the German East Frisian Islands and are part of the Frisian Islands.
Native name: | |
|---|---|
The islands. Uninhabited islands are numbered, from west to east: 1. Noorderhaaks; 2. Richel; 3. Griend; 4. Rif; 5. Engelsmanplaat; 6. Simonszand; 7. Rottumerplaat; 8. Rottumeroog. | |
 Interactive map of West Frisian Islands | |
| Geography | |
| Location | Wadden Sea |
| Archipelago | Frisian Islands |
| Total islands | 14 |
| Major islands | Texel, Terschelling, Ameland, Schiermonnikoog, Vlieland[1] |
| Administration | |
Netherlands | |
| Provinces | North Holland Friesland Groningen |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 23,872 |
| Ethnic groups | Frisians, Dutch |
From west to east the islands are: Noorderhaaks, Texel, Vlieland, Richel, Griend, Terschelling, Ameland, Rif, Engelsmanplaat, Schiermonnikoog, Simonszand, Rottumerplaat, Rottumeroog, and Zuiderduintjes.
The Frisian Islands are nowadays mostly famous as a holiday destination. Island hopping is possible by regular ferries from the mainland and by specialised tour operators. Cycling is the most favourable means of transport on most of the islands. On Vlieland and Schiermonnikoog cars are allowed only for regular inhabitants.
Geography
The island chain represents the remains of a glacially formed sandbank, and may have once been the former coastline of the Netherlands, before it was breached and flooded to form the Wadden Sea many thousands of years ago.[2]
Comparison
| Island /
municipality |
Administrative
province |
Area (km2) | Population | Capital |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texel | North Holland | 463.16 | 13,656 | Den Burg |
| Vlieland | Friesland | 315.80 | 1,194 | Oost-Vlieland |
| Terschelling | Friesland | 673.99 | 4,870 | West-Terschelling |
| Ameland | Friesland | 268.50 | 3,746 | Ballum |
| Schiermonnikoog | Friesland | 199.07 | 931 | Schiermonnikoog |
The islands Noorderhaaks and Texel are part of the province of North Holland. The islands Vlieland, Richel, Griend, Terschelling, Ameland, Rif, Engelsmanplaat, and Schiermonnikoog are part of the province of Friesland. The small islands Simonszand, Rottumerplaat, Rottumeroog, and Zuiderduintjes belong to the province of Groningen.
