Frequently asked questions about the beach on Vlieland

Can you hear air force exercises on Vlieland?

Sometimes: for a few short periods a year the air force trains over and around Vlieland, mainly outside the high season.

• Noise: how much you hear on the beach or in the village depends on wind direction and strength, among other things.
• Vliehors Range: the range covers about 17 km² on the western part of the island and is closed during exercises; signs and red flags mark the boundary.
• Schedule: the Ministry of Defence announces exercises on its flight movements page (in Dutch).
• Complaints: via the Ministry of Defence noise complaint form.

Display Vliehors Range
on the map

Are barbecues allowed on the beach on Vlieland?

For reasons of public safety, the use of barbecues – as well as any open fire, such as campfires, fire pits or grills – is strictly prohibited on the beach of Vlieland at all times.

Barbecues held indoors or on the terrace of a beach pavilion are exempt from this rule and allowed, provided they are arranged in consultation with the respective pavilion.

Can you ride horses on the beach on Vlieland, and where can you book a beach ride?

Yes, on Vlieland you can ride along the beach and through the woods and dunes with a guide.

• Manege De Seeruyter: Manege De Seeruyter on the Badweg offers beach rides for experienced riders and forest rides for beginners, always guided.
• Stal Edda: Stal Edda on the Fortweg offers rides on Icelandic horses through woods and dunes and along the beach all year.

Can you rent a hooded beach chair (strandkorf) on Vlieland?

As far as we know, there are no hooded beach chairs for rent on the beaches on Vlieland.

• Alternative: many beach pavilions rent out sunbeds and windbreaks.

Are restaurants, beach pavilions and shops on Vlieland open in the low season?

Most shops, beach clubs, bars, terraces and restaurants remain open during the weekends in the low season. Many are also open throughout the week.

Each year the low season on Vlieland begins after the autumn holidays till the beginning of the spring holidays. Several shops, beach clubs and restaurants use this period to rebuild, renew or for vacation. As a result, during this low season period, not all stores are opened every day.

Furthermore there is no general period when all the restaurants, bars and shops are closed. All entrepreneurs determine the temporary closure individually. Therefore is there are, also in the low season, enough shops and restaurants opened for you to enjoy.

Can you borrow or rent a beach wheelchair on Vlieland?

Yes, on Vlieland you can rent a manual or electric beach wheelchair.

• Harry's Beach Essentials: at beach Badhuys, tel. +31 6 10 93 73 24, harrysbeach.nl.
• Electric: besides a manual beach wheelchair there is also an electric one you steer yourself.
• Rental: charged per hour; you can book online.
• Use: for beach and sea only; the manual chair needs someone to push.

Display Badhuys
on the map

What does the Blue Flag on the beach mean?

The Blue Flag is an international environmental award, granted annually to beaches and marinas that participate in the campaign and have proven to be clean and safe.

The goal of the Blue Flag programme is to continuously involve governments, entrepreneurs, and recreational users in the care for clean and safe water, beautiful nature, and a healthy environment. Holding a Blue Flag is a recognition of the efforts made by the beach municipality or marina operator in this area. For tourists, the Blue Flag is internationally the recognition and quality symbol for good beaches and marinas.

What are the criteria for the beaches?

• The bathing water is of excellent quality.
• The beach is kept clean.
• There are enough toilets and waste bins on the beach.
• Rescue materials and a first aid post are available on the beach.
• Information activities are organized to protect the natural environment of the sea, beach, and dunes.

More information: https://www.blauwevlag.nl/

Is there a naturist beach on Vlieland?

Yes, on Vlieland naturism takes place on some quiet stretches of beach outside the village.

• More information: an overview of all naturist beaches is available from the Naturisten Federatie Nederland.

Where can you surf or take surf lessons on Vlieland?

On Vlieland you can go wave surfing and paddleboarding, and since 2025 also take kitesurf lessons, all on the North Sea beach near Oost-Vlieland.

• Kitesurfing: Kite Club Vlieland teaches from the May holidays to September at the Ankerplaats dune crossing.
• Wave surfing: Paal 50 gives surf lessons at the Paal 50 hut, about 200 m west of the Badhuys.
• Surfing and SUP for groups: at Vlieland Outdoor Center, on the beach next to the Badhuys.
• Rules: (kite)surfing is only allowed in the designated zones, and flying kites is banned on supervised beaches from 1 May to 1 October.

Is the beach on Vlieland free to access?

Yes, the beach on Vlieland is free to access.

• Costs: for example parking and renting a sunbed, windbreak or beach cabin.

Where is there wheelchair-friendly beach access on Vlieland?

The best wheelchair access to the beach on Vlieland is at 't Badhuys at the end of the Badweg.

• Path: a hard path of paving, concrete slabs and a wooden boardwalk leads to the pavilion, which has a long, gentle ramp and a step-free entrance.
• Toilet: 't Badhuys has an accessible toilet, large enough for a manual wheelchair.
• Beach wheelchair: at the Badhuys beach crossing Harry's Beach Essentials rents out a push and an electric beach wheelchair.
• Note: there is no mat over the sand to the waterline.

Are dogs allowed on the beach on Vlieland?

Dogs are allowed (both loose and leased) on the beaches of Vlieland all year round.

Further, we also recommend reading the information board, with the local beach rules, which is often placed near every beach (entrance).

Are there public showers on the beach on Vlieland?

As far as we know, there are no public showers on the beaches on Vlieland.

• Tip: some beach pavilions have a shower for their guests.

Is metal detecting allowed on the beach on Vlieland?

As far as we know, yes: amateurs may search with a metal detector on the beach on Vlieland.

• Rules: heritage law, weapons law and the local bylaws (APV) also apply on the beach; valuable finds must be reported to the municipality.
• Municipality: Vlieland belongs to the municipality of Vlieland, which can ban detecting through its bylaws; if in doubt, check the current rules.
• Dunes: searching in the dunes is prohibited, to protect nature and the sea defences.
• Tidy up: always fill in any holes you dig.

Can you light a campfire on the beach on Vlieland?

For reasons of public safety, the use of barbecues – as well as any open fire, such as campfires, fire pits or grills – is strictly prohibited on the beach of Vlieland at all times.

Barbecues held indoors or on the terrace of a beach pavilion are exempt from this rule and allowed, provided they are arranged in consultation with the respective pavilion.

Can you fly a drone around Vlieland?

In practice no: almost all of Vlieland is a protected nature reserve and the Vliehors is a military training area.

• Natura 2000: you may not fly a drone over the Wadden Sea, the dunes and the beach.
• Rules: check on rijksoverheid.nl (in Dutch) before every flight where you may fly.

What are the rules for sea fishing from the beach on Vlieland?

Sport fishing from the beach of Vlieland in the North Sea is open all year and throughout the day allowed. Be careful when inserting your rod to the other beach and sea users.

To sport fishing in the sea from the beach you will not need a license.

So even though sport fishing from the beach is allowed throughout the year, one thing remains; keep account of each other!

Can you walk in the dunes on Vlieland off the paths?

Yes, on Vlieland you may walk through the dunes off the paths as well.

• Breeding season: from March to August some dune areas are closed for breeding birds; signs show where.
• Nature: do not pick plants or disturb animals.

Can you rent a beach chair, sunbed, parasol or windbreak on the beach on Vlieland?

Yes, at most beach pavilions on Vlieland you can rent sunbeds, beach chairs, parasols and windbreaks by the day.

• Online: sunbeds can be booked in advance at Harry's Beach Essentials.
• Booking: usually you rent on the spot; on busy summer days it helps to arrive early or book ahead.

Where can you find information on the sea water quality on Vlieland?

Up-to-date information on the bathing water quality at Vlieland is available on zwemwater.nl.

• Status: good (safe to swim), warning (swimming allowed, possible health risk), negative swimming advice and swimming ban.
• Bathing season: from 1 May to 1 October the province measures the quality at the official bathing sites.
• Out of season: there are no measurements; you decide for yourself whether swimming is safe.

Where can you rent a beach cabin on Vlieland?

No, there are no beach cabins for rent on the beaches on Vlieland.

• Alternative: beach pavilions often rent out sunbeds and windbreaks.

Didn't find what you were looking for? The general FAQ page lists all frequently asked questions about Vlieland, sorted by topic.