It does take quite some time to get to the islands other than Texel, depending on where you're travelling from. And 'long' by Dutch standards. In many countries 5 hours travel time is nothing.
But I would be very surprised if #8 were true and all those inhabitants would be stuck on their island for an entire season every year! :-)
Edited by: Cecilia
At low tide you can walk to some of the islands from the mainland (or back). I have done this a few times and it's a great experience.
Only do this with official guides though, many have drowned in the past when the tide came up and they didn't know where to go
Found a link here, think it's Dutch only though: http://www.wadlopen.nl/Main/Main.htm
Adding to The Devil's info about mudwalking, in English: http://www.holland.com/uk/discoverholland/coast/active/mudwalking.jsp
sorry but that's not true.. you can get to all the islands all year round, even in winter. My brother is currently on Terschelling island, next to Vlieland.
So, unless one has a rental car, or a hell of a lot of patience, or does not mind biking it all the way, I do not see it has a realistic thing to do when you are in the country for a limited time.
Not everybody is staying in Amsterdam, such a typical example of Amsterdam centric thinking.
Things must have changed since the moment I gave up on trying to get to the islands - I was told that the ferry crossings were limited in spring time, and all I could do then was to try figuring out a way of getting there - which I could never succeed.
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VLIELAND :
Amsterdam CS -> Harlingen Haven. Dp 8 :56 Arrives at 11 :59. A 3-hour journey, 3 connexions. 2 hours of waiting time in Harlingen.
Ferry Harlingen -> Vlieland : http://tinyurl.com/3gnly4e . Ferry leaves at 14 :15 . Last ferry leaving Vlieland : 16 :45
Train Harlingen Haven -> Amsterdam CS : Dp 17 :04 Ar 20 :02.
6 hours of travelling time by train + 2 hours waiting for the ferry = 8 hours in transportation time all in all (excluding crossing time). Maximum length of stay on Vlieland : 2h30
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TERSCHELLING :
Ams CS -> Harlingen Haven : Dp 8 :56 Ar 11 :59 Harlingen -> AmsCS : Dp 16 :04 Ar 19 :03
Ferry Harlingen -> Terschelling Dp 12 :30 Last departure from the island : 17 :30
6 hours of train + ½ hour of waiting : 6h30 transportation time. For a maximum length of stay on the island : 5 hours
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SCHIERMONNIKOOG :
Train Ams CS -> Groningen : Dp 8 :56 Ar 11 :14
Bus from Groningen to Lauwersoog : Dp 11 :34 Ar 13 :10 - 2 connexions
Ferry :Dp 13 :30. Crossing time : 45 min.
So leaving Ams CS at 8 :56 -> arrival on the island at 14 :15 = 5h15min transportation.
Ferry back to Lauwersoog : last departure from Sch. : 18 :30. Arrival at Lauwersoog 19 :15
Bus from Lauwersoog to Groningen : Dp 19 :24 Ar 20 :24
Train Groningen -> Ams CS : Dp 20 :46 Ar 23 :03
So leaving the island at 18 :30, arrival in Ams CS at 23 :03 = 5 hrs
Total transportation time : 10h15 min. Maximum length of stay on the island : 6h15 min
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AMELAND
No trains to Holwerd, and www.92920v.nl does not know about the location either.
So, unless one has a rental car, or a hell of a lot of patience (to spend more time travellin to and from an island than on the island itself), or does not mind biking it all the way, I do not see it has a realistic thing to do when you are in the country for a limited time. Which I regret.
I picked up Amsterdam for the convenience of calculation and the central part it occupies in the transit system. Chances are that a significant portion of travelers (if not all) will arrive in the country or transit through Amsterdam. Not everybody will venture to the very north east of the country for the fun of it, using solely public transportation, and then try to figure out which bus and/or train could leave to the desired port terminal. If you feel like redoing the same calculations I did but based on another location in The Netherlands, feel free to do so.
@ Saskja, I think the original poster was suggesting staying overnight on the islands, not a daytrip.
Going to most Wadden islands by purely using public transport is hardly doable from anywhere. Just rent car (cheaper then public transport anyway when your with 2 or more people) or bring your own car.
When I do daytrips to Vlieland, Ameland or Schiermonnikoog, I always drive my car up to the ferry, park it and continue on my bicyle.