← Groningen Marathon·2 nights

Schiermonnikoog: A Car-Free Wadden Island After Groningen

A car-free Wadden Sea island reached by bus and ferry, with flat sand and dune paths and almost no hurry.

Duration2 nights
TransitBus from Groningen to Lauwersoog, then ferry to Schiermonnikoog, about 1 hour 30 minutes in total
DepartsGroningen station

After the Groningen Marathon: Schiermonnikoog

The Route: Groningen → Lauwersoog → Schiermonnikoog → Schiphol Airport Logistics: Regional bus from Groningen to the ferry port at Lauwersoog, then a ferry of about 45 minutes. Check the ferry timetable, since sailings follow the tides and the season. Marathon Month: April Duration: 2 nights

Groningen ──(bus, about 50 min)──> Lauwersoog ──(ferry, about 45 min)──> Schiermonnikoog
                                                                              │
Schiphol Airport (AMS) <──(about 3h by ferry, bus and train)────────────────┘

Nobody drives on Schiermonnikoog. Residents' cars are limited by law, and visitors leave theirs on the mainland, so the loudest sound after a ferry arrives is a bicycle bell. The island is 16 kilometres long and about 4 wide, and it is a national park. It is the most remote place a Groningen marathoner can reach by tea-time.

The journey is part of it. A bus runs from Groningen towards the Lauwersmeer lake and the ferry port at Lauwersoog. Check the timetable for the connection to the ferry, because the bus is scheduled around sailings. The crossing takes about 45 minutes.

April on Schiermonnikoog: highs are around 10°C to 12°C and the wind is the main factor. Rain can arrive suddenly. Pack a windproof layer and a hat. Ferry sailings can be reduced or cancelled in strong wind, so allow slack on your return day.

Night One: Arrival and the Village

The ferry docks at a quay about 3 kilometres from the village, which is reached by a bus waiting for each arrival or by bicycle. The village of Schiermonnikoog is small, with a main street, a handful of shops, bakeries and cafés. Hire a bicycle there if you did not bring one. Cycling is easier on tired quads than walking and the island is flat. Book hire in advance for April weekends.

Hotels are limited. Hotel Graaf Bernstorff and Van der Valk Hotel Schiermonnikoog are the two best-known, and several guesthouses and holiday cottages are available. Book as early as possible, since beds are limited, and check breakfast times and luggage arrangements.

Dinner leans to North Sea fish, Wadden lamb and local mussels in season. Reserve in the evenings, because the number of restaurants is small.

Night Two: Beach and Dunes

The beach on the north side is a broad band of hard sand, several hundred metres wide at low tide, with a long flat walk of 2 to 4 kilometres on firm ground. Check the tide table for the day, since high tide narrows the beach.

Inland, marked paths lead through dune and salt marsh. Birdlife includes spoonbills and geese, and seals can be seen on the sandbanks from boat trips that depart from the harbour in season. Check the current schedule for the trips before planning around them.

The Kooiplaats pond and the woodland of the Westerplas are flat, sheltered walks for when the wind rises. The Schiermonnikoog Visitor Centre, in the village, gives maps and tide times.

The island is quiet in April. Some businesses are closed until the season begins, so check opening dates for restaurants and bike hire before booking.

Getting to Schiphol Airport (AMS)

Take the ferry to Lauwersoog, the bus to Groningen and the NS train to Amsterdam Schiphol. The whole journey takes roughly 4 hours, depending on connections. Check the ferry timetable first, build in margin for a delayed sailing, and take an earlier ferry if your flight is the same day.