The Wadden Sea - Between expectations and reality

Exploring the Wadden Sea can be quite an adventure. It is one of the largest UNESCO World Heritage site and is split between 3 countries: The Netherlands, Germany and Denmark. Here we’ll be having a look at the Danish part of the Wadden Sea and what it’s like to visit with high expectations!

Note: this post contains an affiliated link down below as I have found the most gorgeous book about the Wadden Sea. If you decide to purchase it, I will get a small commission at no extra cost to you.

What is the Wadden Sea?

The Wadden Sea is the seashore of the Southern part of the North Sea. It goes roughly from Den Helder (north of Amsterdam) in the Netherlands to Esbjerg in Denmark, following the coastline in Germany. This represents around 500 km (310 mi) of coastline, almost all of which is now part of the UNESCO World Heritage list.

It is an intertidal seashore, meaning the area or most of it, is above water at low tide and under water at high tide. Such environment creates mudflats (where mud is deposited by tides) and wetlands (land areas saturated with water), which are now recognized as rich and important ecosystems.

The Wadden Sea is home to a rich flora and fauna, amongst which migratory birds and seals, different types of seals actually!

As in many other places on Earth, such ecosystem is in danger.

The Wadden Sea was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2009 for the German and Dutch part and 2014 for the Danish part.

The trees are planted on each side of the road!

The Wadden Sea: Expectations versus reality!

There are places you go to which leave you slightly unfulfilled.

Being organized and prepared travelers means that, you too, most likely have been to one of those places, where you had done your fair share of research and thought you were well prepared. Such researched included, of course, drooling over beautiful pictures!

When you finally get to the place you had dreamed about, sometimes, things don’t go as planned.

And when you live such place, you live it with a slight frustration and a pinch of disappointment.

In some cases, it’s not about the place you’re leaving behind. In reality the frustration and disappointment is mostly with yourself.

That’s how I felt when I left the Wadden Sea.

If you check the UNESCO page of the Wadden Sea, you will see in the gallery, a few gorgeous pictures which may explain my feelings.

What was I expecting? To see myriads of birds flying around AND playful seals lying on the beach AND dramatic sky reflecting perfectly in the sea, while strolling nonchalantly on a sandy beach? No, I’m not that naive! …Just the seals!! Ok, just ONE Seal!

But I saw none, zero, zilch.

To be fair, I wasn’t expecting to be able to go to the Wadden Sea. At least not on this last road trip. So I guess I need to admit to myself that I didn’t do enough research in advance and maybe most importantly, I didn’t spend enough time there.

To be extra fair, I would have rather die than be seen on one of the tractorbus tour. My bad, I guess as it is one of the only sure ways to see seals. But that is just not for me!

And finally, the Wadden Sea isn’t about seeing seals. That’s just the cherry on the cake!

And then, the unexpected happens…

There are 2 islands near Ribe. The first one is Mandø and can only be accessed at low tide. I think you need a permit to drive there. The second island is Rømø. It is much bigger and is located just a little further South. Considering it was high tide, Mandø was out of the picture, so Rømø was the only choice.

Rømø has the largest sand beach in Northern Europe and the weirdest, most surprising thing is that… you can drive there! Not just drive TO the beach, you can drive ON the beach! LEGALLY! You can camp there too. Have a barbecue, fly your kite, a favorite activity considering the wind… Just mind the tide.

If you arrive in Rømø unprepared, fear not, there are shops of all sorts just before reaching the beach.

Driving on Rømø beach – The Wadden Sea in Denmark – www.RoadTripsaroundtheWorld.com

Overall a weird experience! Not the most eco-friendly activity, I must admit and certainly not one I would have expected to find there.

The most gorgeous book about the Wadden Sea

The photographers Pieter de Vries and Martin Stock went on an aerial journey across the entire Wadden Sea and delivered breathtaking pictures, which can be found in this perfect book.

You and I will probably never get to see the Wadden Sea like this. Yes, you can probably fly a drone in some of those areas but the result might not be the same. And until you do try, at least we have this book!