Ameland is well known for its nature, broad beaches, white dunetops and clean and clear seawater. The North Sea is at Northern side of the island and the Wadden Sea at the other side. The island has an especially rich flora and fauna. In the sweet and salt areas there is a wide variety of plants. Meadow birds and birds which forage on the mudflats live on the island. During the autumn and spring a great variety of migratory birds are present, which use the island to rest and forage.

 

From East to West and from North to South, Ameland is one natural area. This nature area has various aspects: First of all the ancient dunes, whch can be thousands of years old. To the east is De Hôn, a new and growing nature area. The plants in this area are mostly succulent, primitive and can endure both fresh and saltwater. To the west of the ancient dunes is a marsh that is managed by an organisation called Vennoot. Traditionally, Vennoot is a co-operation of farmers that grazed their cattle in the marshes. During high tide, saltwater flows from the mudflats into this area through gullies, which results in a unique flora and fauna. At the northern end of the island there is a broad range of dunes, which protects the island against the North Sea.

Further west, along the mudflats, there is a broad agricultural and meadow area which is partly a nature reserve.

Many meadow birds breed there and birds rest there after foraging on the mudflats. A 17 kilometre long dike along the mudflats protects the agricultural lands and the inhabitants from high water. At the east of the island, along the mudflats, there is a 9 kilometre long marsh area where seawater enters during high tide. The Wadden Sea is a unique area which for a large part dries up during low tide. The number of birds and sea mammals is special.

Most visitors to Ameland are looking for peace and quiet, want to relax and enjoy nature. The island is perfect for this. As a visitor, you can absorb nature, be quiet and listen to birds or read a book while lying in a quiet area on the white beach. Or you could walk for a day through nature and enjoy the splendour of the mudflats. You can also wander through Het Oerd and De Hôn on the back of a horse. The island is 27 km long and 4 km wide at its broadest point. The access to the nature areas is aimed at bicyclists and walkers. Some visitors bring their own bicycle to the island, but there are also 10,000 bicycles availableto rent on the island.

In contrast to other municipalities, the natural borders of the island Ameland are not fixed. Due to erosion, land reclamation and the “movement”of the island, the size of the island changes. This movement of the island has decreased with sand suppletion. However, the coast of Ameland still changes constantly. The current in the tidal inlets between the island moves large amounts of sand, which leads to erosion and silting up.

The movement of the sand is to the east and this is the reason that at the moment a hook-shaped sandbank is forming near Ballum. Eventually, this sandbank will grow together with the beach. By silting-up, De Hôn is growing eastwards. This is a vast area that consists of sand with young dunes and a large marsh area along the border of the Wadden Sea.