Bird walk
Who is flying or whistling there? Join us on a walk through different island landscapes, each with their own characteristic birds. We will see ducks on the Westerplas, geese in the polder and wading birds on the mudflats. And what about the LBB’s you can see almost everywhere? Find out what an LBB is during our bird walk.
Forest bathing
Submerge yourself in nature and take a bath in the forest, together with the forest ranger!
During this walk, we slow down and experience nature with all our senses. We let ourselves be surprised and amazed by everything the forest and the dunes offer us when we start to feel, to listen, to taste and to smell.
Forest bathing (shinrin-yoku) is originally a Japanese tradition, but anyone who regularly goes out into nature knows that this will make you relax as well. Nature will help you to reduce stress levels and strengthen your immune system. During this excursion you will learn more about this and experience the power of nature yourself.
Beachcombing
When storms buzz over the island, the beachcombers heart starts beating faster: what loot can be found on the beach this time? We visit the beach and hunt for treasures from the sea. Crabs, shells, jellyfish, and maybe a message in a bottle… Who knows?
Winterwalk on the mudflats
Warmly dressed and wearing boots it’s perfectly possible to go on the mudflats in winter. A century ago, people even walked on the frozen Wadden Sea to and from the island. During this excursion we take a walk on the mudflats from the Jachthaven. On the way the guide will tell you how the many animals form the Wadden Sea survive the winter cold. Which animals migrate away in winter, and which ones stay behind? Join us on this special tour and experience the mudflats in winter.
Walk through the dunes and the forest
Variety is the key word during this encounter with the dunes and woods to the northeast of the village. We take a walk through young and older dunes, coniferous and deciduous woods, wet and dry areas. Discover the rich flora and fauna of Schiermonnikoog and listen to stories about a German count, northern and southern slopes, witches’ brooms, rabbits, hares and more.
Star walk
Schiermonnikoog is one of the darkest places of the Netherlands. During the star walk you’ll learn a lot about the stars and the planets, the moon, the Milky Way and other fascinating celestial phenomena. When the sky is clear, of course we look at the different star signs that are visible, but this walk through the dark is also worthwhile when the sky is overcast.
Evening walk
Join us on a walk through the historical village, via the dunes, to the ‘burning’ lighthouse. During this excursion, the guide will tell you about the history of the island and about natural evening phenomena.
General information
- prices: adults € 10,- | children up to 12 years old € 5,-
- prices evening excursions: adults € 12,50 | children up to 12 years old € 6,25
- members of Natuurmonumenten / OERRR pay 30% less
- excursions last about two hours
- the price for the birding excursion includes the use of binoculars
- the price for the mudflat excursion includes the use of rubber boots
- dogs are not allowed
- the guide may cancel the excursion due to harsh weather conditions
- for all our excursions there is a minimum of five participants
- you can find our actual excursion program in our activity calendar (you can buy tickets here as well).
- you can also buy tickets in information centre Het Baken
Important
Our regular excursions are in Dutch, but we can try to find an English-speaking guide for you. During the summer, we sometimes offer English spoken excursions.
Group excursions
Are you visiting Schiermonnikoog with a group? If you like, we can organize a special event for you and consider your wishes and personal interests. Please call us in advance to discuss the options.
In every season
Of course, we also have excursions in spring, in summer and in autumn. During school holidays you can participate in one of our family activities.
Do-it-yourself
Apart from excursions we also have a lot of activities that you can do yourself. For example, the WADDEN excursions kit from the Waddenvereniging, do-it-yourself nature activities for families on the beach and around the Westerplas, the one-and-only Schiermonnikoog bingo and much more. Visit Het Baken and choose the activity that suits you most.