Last shots from Vlieland’s main (or only…though there’s a few scattered houses elsewhere) village, Oost-Vlieland – appropriate today since I’m back with family including Sam again this weekend :-).
One thing I recall Sam and me both enjoying about Vlieland, on our short visit already four months ago, was how varied the terrain was for such a relatively small island. Above you see a fair amount of this variety, with forests and, yes, the hills created over ages of sand piling up and plants growing sufficiently to create enough soil for trees, and so on. In the distance I’m pretty sure you’re seeing Terschelling, the next island over. But it could possibly be the mainland instead. Below, more of the variety.
Admit it: “that’s the Netherlands!” is not the first phrase that springs to mind when you look at the image above? Yet indeed it is; more in this post from remarkable Vlieland and its lovely lighthouse from both below and up top.
The coasts, wetlands and tidal canals of Vlieland were teaming with migratory waterbirds nesting or raising their hatchlings during our long walk around the coast and interior two Fridays ago.
This is the lovely little city of Harlingen, whence depart the ferries to and from the Frisian islands of Vlieland and Ameland. During Sam’s recent visit, we managed a short and very rewarding visit to Vlieland. Here we’ll share the lovely canal loaded with tall ships in Harlingen as we explored the town during the hour or so between arrival of our train and departure of our ferry, two Thursdays ago.
(so much world, so little time....) 