Vlieland is 39 km² and 38.6 km² of that is nature! So it’s with good reason the island is called the ‘pearl of the Wadden Sea'. 140 different species of birds come here to brood and tens of others use the island as a stopover to build up reserves for their continuing migration. And this is how Vlieland got its second nickname, ‘Sahara of the North’. Indeed, the vast sand areas of Vliehors are reminiscent of the desert. Mudflats, sand, dunes, forests, heather fields and silence all make Vlieland a paradise for birds and nature lovers alike.
