Wadden Sea

The diversity of the Wadden Sea landscape on the North Sea coast makes it a unique habitat for countless species of plants and wildlife. This UNESCO World Natural Heritage site covers an area of around 11,000 square kilometres and includes the three Wadden Sea National Parks of Schleswig-Holstein, Lower Saxony, Hamburg and Denmark plus the Wadden Sea conservation area in the Netherlands.

Mussel beds, dense sea grass meadows and soft mudflats provide food for many animals. Flowering salt marshes in the transitional zone along the dykes and on the islands and Hallig islets give way to white sandy beaches and dunes.

For millions of migratory birds, the Wadden Sea is an essential stopover or resting place. Geologically, it is a very young area, only 10,000 years old, and is constantly being re-shaped by the winds and tides. High and low tide alternate every six hours, transforming the landscape as if by magic

You can witness this at any time of year! The changing water levels make it possible to walk right out onto the mudflats and across to the islands that lie just off the coast. On a walk through the mudflats, ideally with an experienced guide, you can feel the interaction of wind, water and waves, and watch huge flocks of birds demonstrating their aerial prowess.

In the distance, you can sometimes even watch seals sunning themselves on a sandbank.

Wadden Sea

UNESCO World Heritage since 2009

From the selection criteria

  • The Wadden Sea forms the world’s largest contiguous sand-mud watts system, in which dynamic processes can take place in a largely undisturbed natural
    state.

  • It stretches over 500 km along the coastlines of Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands.

  • These three countries have been working together for
    almost 40 years to ensure the protection of the Wadden Sea.

Information and Contact

Schleswig-Holstein
Nordsee-Tourismus-Service GmbH
Tel. +49 48421-897 50

Niedersachsen
Die Nordsee GmbH
Tel. +49 4421-956 09 90

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