Come to Schiermonnikoog! It's not only home to one of the biggest beaches in Europe, it also has great walking and cycling paths, a lovely village and a pleasant island culture. It's the perfect place to recharge your batteries.
Schiermonnikoog is the most easterly of the Wadden Sea islands and owes its name to a group of monks who settled on the island sometime in the Middle Ages. The grey colour of the monks' robes was referred to then as ‘schier’ (the first part of the island's name). ‘Oog’ (the last part of the name) was once the word for island. The 'monnik' in the middle of the name is Dutch for 'monk' – Schiermonnikoog actually means grey monk robe island.
You can still find traces of this chapter of the island's history. Visit, for example, Willemshof in the village of the same name, where a statue of the monks was erected in 1961. Another cultural sight worth seeing in the village is the Bunkermuseum Schlei, where a variety of objects from the Second World War are exhibited.
You cannot leave the island without exploring the nature. Take the kids to De Balg, a very wide beach on the eastern side of Schiermonnikoog.
On the west side of the island you'll find the Noordertoren, the island's lighthouse, and in the southwest you can visit the Westerplas, which is part of the National Park Schiermonnikoog. This is a great place to spend a day in nature spotting birds, for example.
Schiermonnikoog is a car-free island, but rare exceptions are made. If you have to take your car with you, remember to apply for a permit well ahead of time. Most people leave their car on the mainland and take their bicycles with them instead. If you left your bikes at home, you can hire some on the island. There are also buses and taxis, which are quite handy if you want to go on longer trips around the island or it’s raining.
You can reach the island from Lauwersoog by water taxi or ferry. The crossing takes 45 minutes. Lauwersoog is to the northwest of Groningen where you catch the bus to the ferry.
Enjoy Schiermonnikoog's beautiful nature, tranquillity and diverse wildlife. Book now for a great holiday.
