Schiermonnikoog
Schiermonnikoog is an island in the West Frisian Islands, Netherlands.
Understand
Being the smallest of these islands, there is only one small village on this island. However, if you enjoy nature and don't mind the absence of any real night life, Schiermonnikoog is possibly the most beautiful of them all.
Get in
A ferry runs several times a day from Lauwersoog in the Hogeland region, the schedule can be found on the website of operator Wagenborg. You pay only for the trip to the island, you don't have to pay again for the return trip - since there is only one ferry service, everyone on the boat back is assumed to be their customer anyways! Bus lines 50 to/from Leeuwarden and 163 to/from Groningen connect with most ferries departures and arrivals, schedules can be found at http://9292.nl/en.
Get around
Except for residents with a special permit, cars are not allowed on Schiermonnikoog! By far the best option is to use a bicycle. You can either take one with you on the ferry or rent one when you arrive (pre-booking available on http://www.fietsenverhuurschiermonnikoog.com/, select "Veerdam" as a pickup location), they are affordable and decent quality. The island is not very big anyway, so getting around by bike will not be a problem. A few bus lines connect the village of Schiermonnikoog with arriving/departing ferries, and run only every few hours.
Maps and information on where to stay can be obtained at the VVV Schiermonnikoog (tourist office), Reeweg 5 (www.vvvschiermonnikoog.nl).
See
- 🌍 Conch museum, Martjeland 14, ☎ +31 519 531663. 15:00 – 17:00 & 20:00 – 22:00. Conchs and other maritime animals from the beaches of the island Adults € 2,00, Children (-12) € 1,00.
Do
While staying here, you will probably spend some time at the beach.
During low tide, you can (and should!) cycle to the uninhabited eastern part of the island and back in one day. This part of the island is continuously growing and shrinking throughout the years due to the interplay of sand deposits and erosion, resulting in a very typical vegetation consisting mostly of pioneer plants. The first part of the trip has a good bicycle path, the second (perhaps most beautiful) part doesn't, and can only be explored at low tide. And even at low tide, you'll probably have to walk part of the way if you want to get all the way to the eastern point...
Buy
Eat
- 🌍 Kwalitaria De Halte, Reeweg 4, ☎ +31 519 531256. Depending on the season. Dutch snacks and ice-cream
- 🌍 Strandpavillon De Marlijn, Prins Bernhardweg 2, ☎ +31 519 531397. from 10:30 kitchen 11:00 – 16:30 kitchen may close early on slow or rainy days.
Drink
- 🌍 Toxbar, Reeweg 7, ☎ +31 519 531373. Café/Terace Mo – So from 10:00 Disco: Sa from 21:00 July + August Mo – Su from 21:00. The only discotheque on the island
Sleep
- 🌍 Hotel van der Werff, Reeweg 2, ☎ +31 519 531203, +31 519 531233, e-mail: hotelvanderwerff@chello.nl. Room with breakfast € 52,50,.
- 🌍 Pension Westerburen, Middenstreek 32, e-mail: pension@westerburen.nl. room with breakfast € 33.
- 🌍 Herberg Rijsbergen, Knuppeldam 2, ☎ +31 519 531257, e-mail: info@rijsbergen.biz. single from € 56; double from € 82, triple from € 114; quadruple from € 140.
- 🌍 Hotel Restaurant Ambrosijn, Langestreek 13, ☎ +31 519 720261, e-mail: info@ambrosijn.nl.
- 🌍 Hotel Graaf Bernstorff, Reeweg 1, ☎ +31 519 532000, +31 519 531233, e-mail: hotel@bernstorff.nl.
- 🌍 Hotel Duinzicht, Badweg 17, ☎ +31 519 531218, e-mail: info@hotelduinzicht.nl.
Campsites
- 🌍 Camping "Seedune", Seeduneweg 1, ☎ +31 519 531398. 1.4. – 1.10. adults € 6,80; children (-10) € 4,20; tent € 3,00, folding tent € 4,00; one time environmental charge € 1,00; reservation fee € 5,00.
- 🌍 Camping-Bauernhof "De Branding", Heereweg 2, ☎ +31 519 531557.
Connect
- 🌍 TNT Postkantoor, Langestreek 56. Mo – Tu, Th – Fr 14:00 – 17:00 W, Sa 5:30 – 12:00.