Frequently asked questions about beach on Vlieland

During a few brief periods there is a training done the Dutch Royal Air Force in NATO exercise location Vliehors Range on Vlieland. These exercises are held predominantly during the off season.

The training will be announced on the defense website well in advance. Whether or not the military exercises can be heard on the (tourist) beach, or in the village of Oost-Vlieland has to with many different factors, including wind direction and wind speed.

The Vliehors Range is located at the most western part of Vlieland and covers an area of approximately 17 square kilometers. During the exercises Vliehors Range on Vlieland is closed to the public. The boundary of the training area is marked with warning signs and red flags.

You can find more information about the military exercises on and around Vlieland at: https://www.defensie.nl/onderwerpen/vliegbewegingen. For questions or complaints, you can also visit the same website and/or call the number: +31 (0)77 465 67 67

Display Vliehors Range
on the map

During the long beach season (June, July, August and September) there are some beach wheelchairs available.

A telephone reservation is recommended. The beach wheelchair is only for use on the beach and into the sea. All beach wheelchairs need someone to push.  
Below are the lending locations with phone numbers:

Harry's Beach Essentials @ strand Badhuys

tel. +31 610 937 324
e-mail info@harrysbeach.nl

Display Badhuys
on the map

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).

There are on Vlieland several nudist beaches.

https://www.nfn.nl/../vlieland/

On the beaches of Vlieland there are no beach cabins (for rent).

All information about horse riding on the beach or in the environment (including local riding schools) can be found on the riding page: https://vlieland.org/en/horseback-riding.php

With regard to the public security fire (including a campfire, fire pit, grill or barbecue) is prohibited at all times on the beach of Vlieland.

Barbecues inside or on the terrace of a beach restaurant, are not covered by this prohibition.

You can rent chairs, windbreakers and umbrellas at various beach pavilions on Vlieland.

Or online:
- https://www.ligbeddenverhuurvlieland.nl/

On this website you will always find the latest information on the quality of bathing water on Vlieland: https://www.zwemwater.nl/

Possible messages are:
- Good: There are no reports for this swimming spot. You can safely swim.
- Warning: Swimming allowed, however there is a potential health risk.
- Advice against bathing: Not swimming, health risk.
- Swim Ban: Swimming prohibited, great health risk.

During the bathing season (May 1 to October 1) local provinces will inform you about the quality of the water of the official bathing sites. The measuring point is the place where most bathers are expected either where the risk of pollution is greatest.

Outside the bathing season, the bathing water is not investigated. If you go into the water off season, you must decide for yourself whether it is justified.

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/

As far as we know there are no Strandkorbs (beach baskets) (for rent) on the beaches of Vlieland.

With regard to the public security fire (including a campfire, fire pit, grill or barbecue) is prohibited at all times on the beach of Vlieland.

Barbecues inside or on the terrace of a beach restaurant, are not covered by this prohibition.

As far as we know there are no (free) public showers on the beaches of Vlieland.

Access to and use of the beaches of Vlieland is (of course) free.

As far as we know it is permitted to search the beach of Vlieland with a metal detector.

General information
Generally it is allowed to search the Dutch beaches using a metal detector at amateur level. Metal detection is a search method for finding metal objects in the ground. Beach searchers use a metal detector to find lost items (jewelry and coins) of bathers.

Of course, Dutch laws and regulations also apply on the beach. This means that you, also when searching on beach, need to take the following into account: Law on Archaeological Heritage, the Monuments law, the weapons and ammunition law, the local General Local Regulation (APV), Lost and Found items according to the civil law etc. Aside from that you should always leave behind your search location the way you found it. In other words, neatly close any dug holes.

A local municipality may decide to prohibit the use of a metal detector (detection ban) via the General Local Regulation. Therefore always check the General Local Regulation and/or contact the municipality where you wish to search. Vlieland is subject to the municipality of Vlieland. Here you will find contact information about this municipality: https://www.vlieland.nl/

Dunes
Note: Searching in the Dutch dunes is generally strictly prohibited. This is due to the protection of nature.

All information about horse riding on the beach or in the environment (including local riding schools) can be found on the riding page: https://vlieland.org/en/horseback-riding.php

People can walk in the dunes, also off the beaten track.

Only in the breeding season (March-August) are several dune areas closed, to give the birds present the chance to raise their young. This is indicated with signs.

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!