Have you ever thought about visiting the Dutch island of Terschelling ?
The second largest of the West Frisian Islands, also known as the Wadden islands, is the perfect destination for a wholesome island escape.
The beautiful island of Terschelling is the place to come to and connect with beautiful landscapes in nature, spend time by the sea and discover a rich island heritage.
How to get to Terschelling
Getting to Terschelling from the Dutch mainland involves taking a Rederij Doeksen ferry from the charming port town of Harlingen. There are two options of crossing:
- The foot passenger only fast ferry takes approx. 50 minutes.
- The regular ferry can take cars and vehicles, takes about 2 hours.
Day tickets start from €34 return and there are multiple sailings each way, every day. The ferries are dog friendly with no charge to take your four legged friend onboard.
Things to Do on Terschelling
Terschelling is full of possibilities; places to walk and cycle, beautiful spots to discover, beaches for days and a rich local history. Things to do on Terschelling include…
Exploring the Coastline & Beaches
Terschelling is proud of its beaches and rightly so. Beach highlights on the island include:
- Formerum Beach: A wide sandy beach backed by dunes. Family and dog friendly with a beach pavilion where facilities include a beach bar and a surf school.
- Midsland an Zee: Another family and dog friendly option, also features wheelchair friendly beach access. Other facilities include beachside cafes & bars, toilets and a first aid point.
- Oosterend & Boschplaat: To the east of the island, the wilder beaches and the Boschplaat nature reserve. Perfect for walking, wildlife spotting and, if you visit at night, star gazing. This part of Terschelling is a designated Dark Skies Park.
Wild Swimming:It is possible to swim in the waters around Terschelling , with caution. Always observe the beach flags: a red and yellow striped flag indicates the lifeguard station is open and manned. Red flag indicates danger; you should not enter the water.
Walk or Cycle to the Ship Wreck House
The Wadden Sea waters can be treacherous, meaning this corner of the Netherlands has seen more than its fair share of shipwrecks. This led to the building of the ‘Drenkelingenhuisje’ or Shipwreck House.
The name of this tiny house on poles comes from the Dutch drenkling meaning ‘ drowning man’ and it was built in the 1800s to give shelter to shipwreck survivors.
The current house isn’t original, but it is a faithful replica. An true Terschelling landmark.
Visit the Wreck Museum
Housed in an old Terschelling farm house that was itself built with timber salvaged from a wrecked ship, the Wreck Museum is full of curiosities and artefacts dating from the 1600’s to present day.
Some finds have been recovered from the wrecks in the waters around the island- around 150, at last count- others were turned up by beachcombers. The exhibits range from the intriguing to the absurd.
Not a conventional museum, but not one to miss. One of our most enjoyed things to do in Terschelling. Find full details of the Wreck Museum in this post (Coming soon)
The Brandaris Lighthouse: A Terschelling landmark, the 55m high lighthouse is the oldest in the Netherlands. As you cannot view the interior of the Brandaris, it’s best viewed from afar on one of the island’s walking or cycling routes.
The Terschelling Bunker Route & Museum: From April to October, it is possible to visit four WW2 bunkers. This can be combined with walking the Bunker Route, a sign posted walk through dunes and forest that ends at the Bunker Museum in West-Terschelling.
Terschelling & Cranberries
The famous berry of Terschelling; the cranberry.
You won’t go far without coming across something cranberry on this island. Jams, juices, cakes, even a sign that famously declares,’ Cranberries. Good for pissing!’.
Can’t really argue with that, can you?
Cranberry culture is strong on the island now, but it all started by accident. The story goes that back in the 1800s a couple of barrels of the berries washed ashore. The islanders opened the barrels in hope of something of interest.
Finding only berries, they flung them in disgust into the dunes. The berries grew and a whole industry grew from them.
Try an island speciality in a unique Terschelling venue by heading to Koffiehuis de Koffiemolen. This cafe housed in an old mill is a glimpse into the past. Tables made of old mill machinery, vintage signage on the walls and lots of images of the mill through the ages.
Along with tea and coffee, the mill is famous for serving up the traditional cream topped cranberry tarts alongside a range of other cranberry treats including cheesecake and ice cream.
Where to Stay on Terschelling
We stayed in an apartment with Landal which offers the perfect family accommodation on Terschelling. The resort offers a range of holiday apartments, each one sleeping 2-6 people.
One of things we enjoyed most was a daily bakery delivery , meaning we could start each morning with a relaxed breakfast. Apartments are fully equipped for self catering so eating in is not a problem.
Landal West Terschelling is perfectly located within walking distance of the historic village of West Terschelling. Here you’ll find shops, cafes and pretty streets perfect for strolling.
Landal West Terschelling is also accessible by public transport should you wish to leave the car at Harlingen and take advantage of the fast ferry.
There are a range of places to stay in Terschelling, check out this list for further inspiration.
When Should I Visit Terschelling?
You can visit all year round, but Spring through to late Autumn is when the weather will be best and most island facilities will be open.
We have found the best time to visit is around or just after Easter. The weather is generally picking up, prices are still fairly low and the island is ready to welcome visitors without being too busy.
Towards the end of June, Terschelling hosts the Oerol festival. Lots of fun, but very busy. Avoid this if you are seeking a peaceful break!
Have I inspired you to visit the wonderful Dutch island of Terschelling? Or maybe you’ve been and can drop your recommendations in the comments?
For more Dutch travel inspiration, try these next- Things to do in Wassenaar, Holland and Cycling Wassenaar to Scheveningen
Helen x
So interesting. I’d never given a thought to there being islands off the Dutch coast – and so cute.
It really is a lovely place, we only heard about Terschelling through word of mouth. I glad we made the effort to visit though. Thank you for stopping by and reading.
Thanks for the interesting info, Helen. That part of the Netherlands, West Frisia in general, is/was one of my favourite parts of that country. I used to sail there a lot.
That sounds amazing. I’d love to back and explore some more, the islands and the port of Harlingen. Not sure I have sea legs for sailing though!
This sounds our kind of place. Thanks for a relaxing and enticing visit.
Looks delightful.and you had me at cranberry tart…
Thanks for sharing! We like the Netherlands, so have to put it on the list. It reminds me a bit of the British islands…
So sorry for the late reply, I’ve just spotted this comment. Terschelling is lovely, definitely worth a visit. Thanks so much for taking the time to read and comment.