Guide · Wadden Islands · All year
You can join a seal-watching trip from every Dutch Wadden island, but each island does it its own way. Texel has the most boats, on Terschelling and Vlieland fast inflatables take you out to the sandbanks, and on Ameland you cruise along at an easy pace with the whole family. This guide lists the harbours, the trips and the sandbanks where the seals haul out, island by island.
Short answer: Texel has the most seal trips, from Oudeschild and De Cocksdorp, plus the Ecomare centre in De Koog. On Terschelling and Vlieland, fast boats head to the sandbanks between the two islands, where many grey seals rest. On Ameland, the seal boat leaves from Nes. Go around low tide and book ahead in summer.
Seal trips by island
| Island | Departure | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Texel | Oudeschild and De Cocksdorp | The widest choice. From Oudeschild, boats such as De Anna, the TX44 and the MS Rival head for the seals on the Razende Bol; from De Cocksdorp, the De Vriendschap ferry sails, also combined with a visit to Vlieland |
| Vlieland | Oost-Vlieland harbour | Fast inflatable boats to the sandbanks. On land, the Vliehors Expres takes you to the Vliehors, the vast sand plain at the western tip, where you usually see seals too |
| Terschelling | Museum jetty, West-Terschelling | A fast RIB reaches the sandbanks towards Vlieland in about 45 minutes, in small groups; runs May to September. The historic lifeboat Brandaris also sails the Wadden Sea |
| Ameland | Nes harbour | Seal trip with De Zeehond along the south coast to the sandbanks, which can be combined with a visit to a shell bank |
| Schiermonnikoog | Schiermonnikoog harbour | Seal trip aboard the MS Boschwad to the sandbanks around the island |
Times and prices change with the season and the tide. Always check the operator’s website and book ahead in the summer holidays. Fewer boats sail in winter.
Prefer the mainland?
You don’t have to go to an island. Seal trips also leave from Den Helder, Harlingen and Lauwersoog. From Harlingen there is a trip with a stop on Vlieland, and from Lauwersoog you sail to the Engelsmanplaat and Simonszand near Schiermonnikoog.
The sandbanks where seals rest
| Razende Bol (Noorderhaaks) | Between Texel and Den Helder; the regular destination of trips from Oudeschild |
| Sandbanks between Vlieland and Terschelling | Besides harbour seals, many grey seals rest here, and they often come curiously close |
| Sandbanks along Ameland’s south coast | The destination of the seal trips from Nes |
| Engelsmanplaat and Simonszand | Near Schiermonnikoog; reached from Lauwersoog and Schiermonnikoog |
When are your chances best?
| Tide | Around low tide, when the sandbanks fall dry. At high tide the seals are out hunting |
| Season | All year. Most boats sail in summer; winter brings better chances of grey seals and fewer crowds |
| Pups | Harbour seals in June and July, grey seals mainly in December and January |
| Weather | Calm weather is best. In strong wind trips are sometimes cancelled, especially on small fast boats |
Watch without disturbing
- Seals are protected. Disturbing, chasing or approaching them is forbidden.
- Choose a skipper who keeps his distance from resting seals and stays on the water.
- Don’t paddle a kayak or SUP to the sandbanks yourself; parts of the Wadden Sea are quiet zones.
- A seal on the beach is usually just resting. Keep your distance, keep your dog on a lead and call a seal rescue centre if in doubt.
Frequently asked questions
Seals on the Wadden Islands
Which Wadden island is best for seals?
Seals rest on sandbanks all over the Wadden Sea. Texel has the most trips, and the sandbanks between Vlieland and Terschelling are known for large groups of grey seals.
Where do seal trips leave on Texel?
From Oudeschild harbour, with boats such as De Anna, the TX44 and the MS Rival, and from De Cocksdorp with the De Vriendschap ferry.
How long does a seal trip take?
It varies. The fast RIB trip on Terschelling takes about 45 minutes; trips on larger boats often last one and a half to three hours, sometimes with a stop on another island.
Can you see seals on the Wadden Islands without a boat?
With luck, yes. On Vlieland the Vliehors Expres takes you to the western tip, where seals often rest. On Texel you can see seals at the Ecomare rescue centre in De Koog.
When is the best time for a seal trip?
Around low tide. Harbour seal pups are born in June and July, grey seal pups in December and January.
Also read our guides seal spotting in the Netherlands and seal spotting in Zeeland. What can you see when? See the seasonal calendar for the Netherlands.
Habitat · The Netherlands
