Island hopping in the Netherlands: 'Waddeneilanden'

There are plenty of islands where you can sip cocktails under palm trees whilst looking at a blue sea, but you'd have to hop on a plane to the other side of the world for it. And to be honest, we're just a bit more into sustainable travel. There are so many beautiful places to discover in the Netherlands! The 'Waddenzee' area is a prime example of this.

If you prefer to go on holiday by the sea you don't need to travel thousands of miles. The Netherlands' most famous island group on both the IJsselmeer and the North Sea is called 'de Waddeneilanden' (Wadden Islands). This island group even has its own word for a package holiday: Wadden hopping. We've put our efforts into setting up this ready-made one-of-a-kind island adventure route, especially for you as a Greenwheels driver.

This week-long roadtrip is best suited to travel with a shared car. On Texel, Terschelling and Ameland you can drive all around the island, but on Vlieland cars aren't allowed. Why not make plans to visit these unique places in the Netherlands? At the end of the trip you can answer the question: which island is the best and most beautiful of the Wadden Islands?

Day 1 and 2: Texel

Start your summer island tour by stepping into your Greenwheels car and loading your bags. You can rent the nearest Greenwheels, but you can also travel to the city of Alkmaar by train. There we have 15 shared cars, including one next to the railway station. Drive your Greenwheels to Den Helder to board the ferry to the first island: Texel. You cross the Wadden Sea with the TESO ferry service. The fastest way to get on the boat with your car is to buy a ticket in advance and provide the registration number of your Greenwheels (you can find this in our app when you book). Good to know: your boat ticket is a return ticket.

Texel is the largest Wadden island and there's plenty to do, especially in the summer months. The best thing is to tour the island and stop at sights and activities that appeal to you. Check the local tourist office ("VVV") or Tripadvisor. Though it's only 8 kilometres wide, there are no less than 40 (!) nature reserves on island, with a great deal of diverse landscapes: forest, dunes, sandbank, marshland and grassland. Spot spoonbills at De Geul or enjoy some culture in picturesque Oosterend. For a day at the beach, it is best to go to De Cocksdorp or to De Koog.

Where to stay: There are several "natuurhuisjes" (houses located in nature) on the island of Texel, including in the forest De Dennen. Or think outside the box with an overnight stay in a yurt.

Taste the place: Texel has a wide variety of ehm well, real Texel products: beer, sheep's cheese, Wadden goodies such as sea lavender, oysters, cranberries, mussels and lamb, because there are almost as many sheep on Texel as there are human residents.

Day 3: from Texel to Vlieland

On day 2, drive your Greenwheels car from your overnight address to De Cocksdorp, the northernmost tip of Texel. Here you start the day trip to Vlieland, the second island of your Waddenhop holiday. You make this trip with De Vriendschap, a seasonal passenger ship that organises various round trips and trips on the Wadden Sea.

This day trip can only be booked on a limited number of days, so plan this trip well in advance. The sailing route to Vlieland is breathtakingly beautiful with a high chance of seeing seals. Top tip: Is getting up early on your summer break not your jam? You can also skip Vlieland and opt for a romantic evening boat trip, where you can watch the sunset together. Or travel to Harlingen earlier and take the boat to Vlieland from there (and vice versa).

Rent a bike on Vlieland and take a trip across the island. It's not a big island, but here you'll also find a wide variety of landscapes. Some even compare Vlieland to the French island of Corsica because of its many Southern European pines and spruces. Who knew you'd find this within the borders of the Netherlands? Have seen enough nature for one day? What about some 'island wellness', for example at Zin aan Zee. You suddenly turn it into a luxury holiday in the Netherlands! Rememer to get back on board of De Vriendschap in time.

Day 4: Harlingen

Stay on Texel on this day until after lunch and then take the boat back to Den Helder. Continue by car to Harlingen, where you take the boat to Terschelling the next day. The Den Helder-Harlingen route is a beautiful ride of about 65 kilometers over the Afsluitdijk and through the wide Frisian landscape. Even though Harlingen is not an island, it's a nice town for an afternoon. It's a very old town, Harlingen received its city rights in 1234 (and no, that's not a typo).

For example, do the Escape Route Harlingen, where you get to know the city through a story, solve puzzles and answer questions. More in the mood for shopping followed by a water-side terrace? There are plenty of options for that too: Harlingen has no fewer than seven (!) harbours.

Where to stay: plenty of options in this Frisian town: from hotel rooms to camping pitches. But why not make it a little more exciting? For example, choose a night in a lighthouse, harbour crane or lifeboat!

Taste the place: Frisian suikerbrood ("sugar bread") is delicious at breakfast or as a coffee snack.

Day 5: Terschelling

On the roadtrip plan today: Wadden Island number three! First, take the boat to Terschelling. The car is allowed on the ferry service - not the express service, which is car-free - of Rederij Doeksen. The crossing takes approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes. If you take the morning boat, you'll have enough time to wander around the island. You arrive at a town called West-Terschelling, from where you can discover Terschelling.

Experts agree: Terschelling has the most beautiful beaches of all the Wadden Islands (and probably of the whole of the Netherlands). In some places the sandy beach is more than a kilometre wide, with quiet spots galore. Park your Greenwheels at a beach entrances, except at Hoorn beach entrance, which is car-free. The beach with the best view is the Groene Strand – really a place to go with your Greenwheels (groene means green) 😉

Terschelling is also the place for something sporty. The island's wide beaches are great for blokarting or flying a kit. The Wadden Sea is perfect here for kite surfing, windsurfing and wave surfing as well.

Where to stay: Terschelling fully caters to tourists. Whether you want to camp or prefer to book a luxury hotel room, there are plenty of options. Budget traveler? The Stayokay Terschelling hostel is located in a beautiful spot.

Day 6 and 7: from Terschelling to Ameland

The next morning, take the boat back to Harlingen and drive to the Frisian town of Holwerd, a car trip of about 40 minutes. Take the afternoon ferry to Ameland, this boat service takes about 50 minutes. Upon arrival on the island, drive to your overnight address and watch the sunset: we suggest you do so on the westernmost tip of the island at Beach Club The Sunset (what's in a name!). It's seriously breathtaking here! Ameland is also the perfect place for mudflat hiking ("wadlopen") or an eco-safari! Top tip: the lighthouse tour in the dark is highly recommended!

All good things come to an end... the next day is the last day of this holiday, unfortunately. You end this Wadden Islands tour by taking the boat from Ameland back to mainland. Then drive your Greenwheels back home, or to the city of Alkmaar, if you picked it up there.

Additional tips:

• The route Den Helder – Texel v.v. – Den Helder – Harlingen – Terschelling v.v. – Holwerd – Ameland v.v. and back to Den Helder is approximately 300 km. The final kilometres depend of course on what you do on site.
• Book the ticket for the Texel-Vlieland route first and plan the rest of your trip around it. This crossing only goes a few times a week, even in high season.
• Always buy tickets for ferries and other water transport well in advance. Preferably as early as possible, so you don't miss out.
• Traveling by boat is not the most sustainable way to spend your holiday. If sustainable travel is important to you, you can offset the CO₂ emissions of this trip and/or visit an island less.
• Want to cycle on the islands? You can take your own mountainbike or racing bike with you in our station wagon.
• Do you think this roadtrip is a bit over the top and prefer a 'day with 0 plans' as well? You can easily make a two-week roadtrip out of it. Just stay a little while longer on each island. Be sure to reserve your Greenwheels using our affordable Day and Week deals.

Best Greenwheels car to reserve:

Alkmaar: NS Station Alkmaar/Stationsweg 56. Is this car not available? There is are 14 more cars in Alkmaar. Or search the Greenwheels near you on the map.