Travel

Why Vlieland is my second great love (and these are my best tips!)

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My husband is a born and raised Vlielander, so you understand that I can often be found on this beautiful island. And how nice it is there! The relaxed vibe, the wide beaches, the vast nature reserves, the cute little restaurants and shops… I might be just as in love with this island as I am with my husband.

Last week we were there. The weather was lovely and we had a great time wandering through the dunes, collecting oysters, and making a campfire. You can't make me happier than that.

Vliebiza: vacation on Vlieland

Because of that relaxed atmosphere, Vlieland is sometimes called Vliebiza. Although there are no mega-discos to be found and you don't have to worry about whether your expensive flip-flops match your handbag. In fact, here you don't have to be ashamed if you wear cargo pants, and it's quite common to have the same jacket and bike as your boyfriend.

It is also a bit cooler than Ibiza, but Vlieland has the most sunshine hours in the Netherlands. So… do you want to get away for a bit and are you looking for a nice staycation just an hour and a half by boat from Harlingen? Then this is your island. Here are my favorite tips for sleeping, shopping, and things to do on Vlieland.

Sleeping on Vlieland

It's really nice to rent a tent house at camping Stortemelk.. You do have to walk with a roll of toilet paper under your arm to the toilet building, but otherwise, these houses are equipped with all conveniences. A kind of camping deluxe, located in a beautiful dune area.

My husband and I usually stay at Hotelletje de Veerman, a super cozy family hotel run by two brothers and their wives. The beds are comfortable, the breakfast is great, and the room prices are reasonable.

Shopping on Vlieland: surprisingly a lot of fun

For a village with 1070 inhabitants, there are quite a few nice shops on Vlieland to be found in East Vlieland. I've already scored quite a few nice items there.

  • PR8: nonchalant-chic outfits from 10 Days, YAYA & Lollys Laundry.
  • Eb & Vloed: with brands like Antik Batik and Fabienne Chapot. You can also score a trendy raincoat or boots here (which you unfortunately sometimes need).

Both stores can be found in the cozy Dorpsstraat of Vlieland.

To do: what to do on Vlieland

  • Rent a tandem and cycle along shell paths to the Posthuys. There you can eat pancakes or drink coffee with apple pie and cranberry sauce.
  • Collecting oysters on Vlieland: at low tide they are just lying on the Wadden side. Mussels too, by the way. Bring an oyster knife!
  • Go with Oysterman Gerrit Grijpstra on an adventure. He knows everything about the mudflats. You can find him on Facebook.
  • Rent an Icelandic pony at Stal Edda and trot through the woods or along the beach.
  • With the Vliehors Expres takes you to the west side of Vlieland, a mini-desert with poetic tire tracks in the sand.
  • Spotting seals: Join zeehondentochtenvlieland.nl and see hundreds chilling on the sandbanks.

Festival on Vlieland: Into The Great Wide Open

After all these slightly quaint but delightful tips, also something hip: ITGWO! The first weekend of September, Vlieland transforms into a fairytale festival. Think stages in the dunes, art in the forest, great live music, and an audience dancing in Birkenstocks to upcoming artists.

The festival sells out quickly, but you can sometimes score last-minute tickets via TicketSwap.

Want to know more about Vlieland?

Whether you're looking for a relaxing vacation, nature, oysters, or shops: Vlieland has it all. This island is small, but oh so nice – and perhaps your next favorite getaway in the Netherlands.