Discover all the things to do and places to visit on Vlieland and plan your perfect island getaway.
Nestled in the UNESCO-listed Wadden Sea, Vlieland is one of the five Dutch Wadden Islands and is located between the islands Texel and Terschelling. This car-free island lies just north of Friesland’s main land in one of Europe’s most unspoiled coastal regions.
In this article I will share with you how to visit Vlieland and where to stay the night. But I will also show you all of the island’s main sights including the “Sahara of the North” and seal spotting.
Read next: 17 Fun Things To Do On Texel The Largest Wadden Sea Island
Map of places to visit on Vlieland
To give you an idea of the places to visit on your Vlieland adventure, take a look at the map below.
How to Visit Vlieland
It takes a bit of time to get to Vlieland, but once you’re there it’s easy to get around when you rent a bicycle.
Getting There
Car | To visit Vlieland you need to take the ferry from Rederij Doeksen in Harlingen. Vlieland is a car-free island, so you need to leave the car in Harlingen.
As you approach Harlingen signs will direct you to where you need to park. You can check all the parking options here, but the easiest is to reserve a spot at the long-term car parks P1/P2/P3, which is €7.50 per day.
Try to arrive an hour before the ferry departs for a relaxed and worry-free start of your island getaway.
Public Transport | The harbour of Harlingen has its own train station (Harlingen Haven) which is only a 5-minute walk away from the ferry. You can buy train tickets by tapping your card, or buy it online in advance here.
A trip on the train to Harlingen Haven takes about 3 hours from Amsterdam Central Station. Sometimes you need to change trains in Zwolle, but always in Leeuwarden. From Leeuwarden it takes 30 minutes on the train to Harlingen Haven.
Tip: If you take the first train in the morning from Amsterdam you could arrive just in time for the first ferry. Alternatively, plan to spend a day and night in the lovely Frisian city of Leeuwarden before you visit Vlieland.
Ferry Tickets | After arrival in Harlingen you can board the ferry to Vlieland. Rederij Doeksen usually operates at least 3 sailings per day. Especially during weekends or the summer season you should buy your tickets in advance.
If you want to explore other Wadden Islands, then Rederij Doeksen also sells tickets between Vlieland and Terschelling. Between Texel and Vlieland there’s a seasonal waddenveer service.
Getting Around
Car | Vlieland is a car free island, so you cannot take your car onto the ferry and then drive around the island. Instead you can rent a bicycle upon arrival in Oost-Vlieland
Rent-a-bike | Renting a bicycle is the way to go on Vlieland, since cars are not allowed on the island. You can rent your bicycle (in advance) from Jan van Vlieland, which is right at the ferry port.
Tip: The Jan van Vlieland website is in Dutch only, but just click on ‘Fiets Huren’ or ‘Reserveren’ and you can change to English.
Where to Stay on Vlieland
Reaching Vlieland may take a bit of time, but that’s also part of its charm. The journey itself becomes part of the adventure, leading you to a perfect escape and place to unwind.
To make the most of what Vlieland has to offer, consider staying at least two or three nights. This way, you’ll have time to truly immerse yourself in the island’s beauty and embrace the island’s slow pace. The island is also easy to combine with Terschelling. First do Vlieland, then hop over to Terschelling and back to the main land from there.
Check out some of these accommodation options for your visit to Vlieland:
- Leut Logies | In the centre of Oost-Vlieland Leut has a wonderful hotel on top of their coffee bar. The 3 rooms are bright and modern
- Loods Logement | In a beautiful location at the start of the main street with plenty of restaurants and bars at your doorstep. The lighthouse is only 1.1km away
- Camping Stortemelk | Bringing your own tent to Vlieland? Then you can pitch it right in the dunes of the Stortemelk campground. You’ll find clean sanitary facilities here, as well as a good restaurant for your meals
Not quite what you’re looking for? Then check out all of the options on booking.com’s Vlieland page.
11 Fun Things to Do & Places to Visit on Vlieland
With all the practicalities out of the way let’s get to the best stuff: what are the things to do on your visit to Vlieland.
1. Explore Oost-Vlieland
Begin your visit to Vlieland with a stroll through the charming village of Oost-Vlieland. This village is also the only village on the island. Oost-Vlieland is filled with historic houses and cute little streets.
See if you can pick up some souvenirs typical for the island in one of the shops, such as Dinges or Kadotiek ‘t Kwettersnest. Stop by for a coffee at Leut and enjoy the atmosphere of the rest of the village.
You can also visit Museum Tromp’s Huys where you can discover more about Vlieland’s maritime history. The museum exhibits displays of island life, maritime artifacts, and local art related to the island’s seafaring traditions.
2. Visit Vlieland’s Vuurboetsduin Lighthouse
Vlieland’s Vuurboetsduin lighthouse is an island icon. Climb to the top for incredible panoramic views of the Wadden Sea and surrounding islands.
The dune on which the lighthouse is located is 45m high, making it the Netherlands’ third highest sand dune. Apart from that it’s actually the highest point in the Friesland province.
3. Join a Vliehors Expres Tour
Venture to the western side of Vlieland on the Vliehors Expres, a unique off-road tour that takes you across the Vliehors, a vast sand-plain often called the “Sahara of the North.”
Joining the 2-hour tour includes a visit to the Reddingshuisje (Rescue House), a historic lifeguard hut turned museum, and offers spectacular views of Vlieland’s landscapes. With a bit of luck you can even encounter seals on the very western tip of the island.
During the summer season the Vliehors Expres connects to the waddenveer that goes to Texel, which makes for a great opportunity to visit both islands.
4. Cycle Around the Island
Since the island is car-free, cycling is the best way to visit Vlieland and explore its landscapes. Vlieland has an extensive network of cycle paths, that will take you almost everywhere on the island.
The 20km circular route (rondje Vlieland) will take you past forests, sand dunes and the Vliehors in the very west of the island.
Bike rentals are available right as you get off the ferry at Jan van Vlieland. Rent an e-bike so it’s even easier to cover every hidden corner of the island.
5. Relax on Vlieland’s Beaches
Vlieland is famous for its pristine, wide beaches, where you can unwind, swim, or walk along the coast. The beaches are well-maintained, and because Vlieland is quieter than some of the larger Wadden Islands, you’ll always have plenty of space to yourself.
Now the Netherlands is not really known the world over as the perfect beach destination, but if the sun is out you can probably find a space somewhere out of the wind to enjoy the sun.
6. Spot resident and migratory birds
Vlieland is a birdwatcher’s paradise, with a wide variety of resident and migratory birds. From spoonbills and avocets to barnacle geese and oystercatchers.
Vlieland’s diverse habitats attract numerous species throughout the year. Bring binoculars and head to the dunes or wetlands for the best sightings.
7. Visit Vlieland’s Seals Population on a Seal-Watching Tours
One of the highlights of visiting Vlieland is the opportunity to see seals in their natural habitat.
Book a seal-watching tour through operator Zeehondentochten Vlieland and board one of their speedboat-tours. Make sure to book your tour in advance, so you don’t miss out.
The 45-minute tour to the sand-banks between Vlieland and Terschelling costs €30. Seals love to bathe in the sun, but they’re also very curious and often swim up right next to the boat!
8. Try Activities at Paal 50 such as ‘wadlopen’
For adventure-seekers, Vlieland offers a range of water sports, including kayaking, supping, blokarting and kite-surfing. This way you can experience the Wadden Sea in an active way.
Another activity that is very unique is to go on the activity ‘wadlopen’, which means walking on the bottom of the Wadden Sea during low tide. Don some old shoes that you can miss and keep on walking on the mud flats away from the coast.
Do not under any circumstance however, go ‘wadlopen’ on your own. Instead join a tour where the guide knows what they’re doing, such as at Paal 50.
9. Visit Fortuna Vlieland on a Brewery Tour
If you enjoy finding out about new beers in the remotest corners of the world, then definitely visit Fortuna Vlieland. They offer tours in Dutch, but if you announce yourself before booking, they might be able to cater you in English.
On the tour you will learn about Fortuna Vlieland’s own water and energy supply, and about other local ingredients used in their brews. They also have an exposition space, a tasting room and a film theater.
10. Visit Vlieland’s Into The Great Wide Open Festival
Held in late August, Into The Great Wide Open is Vlieland’s music and arts festival. The festival combines live music with visual arts and literary events.
Into The Great Wide Open is known for its sustainable practices and intimate setting and brings artists and audiences together against Vlieland’s stunning natural backdrop.
If you want to attend plan ahead by booking your accommodation ahead, because there’s only a limited amount of accommodation available on the island.
Tip: The next edition of Into The Great Wide Open is 27-30 August 2026.
11. Open-air cinema during the summer months
Throughout the year Podium Vlieland screens an excellent selection of crowd favourites and accessible arthouse films. And during the summer months that selection extends to an open-air cinema set-up in the dunes close to Oost-Vlieland.
To see what’s on you can check out the agenda on the Podium Vlieland website. The outdoor screenings are on screen number 2. All screenings are in their original language with Dutch subtitles.
Final Thoughts on Visiting Vlieland
Vlieland is my favourite Wadden Island and a true escape from everyday life. It’s just so relaxing to cycle around the around, sit on the beach and go for a walk through the dunes. The island is a great destination on any Netherlands itinerary, and truly different from any other place in the country.
Have you been to Vlieland, or have any questions? Then leave a comment below, or send me a message on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you. Also sign up to my newsletter to get regular updates about new travel guides, itineraries and travel tips.
Planning your trip to the Netherlands? You won’t regret adding Vlieland to your itinerary. Also check out my Netherlands Travel Guide to see all posts about my home country, or continue reading the latest articles below:
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