Frequently asked questions about beach on Terschelling

On this website you will always find the latest information on the quality of bathing water on Terschelling: 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.

Sport fishing from the beach of Terschelling 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!

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

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

As far as we know it is permitted to search the beach of Terschelling 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. Terschelling is subject to the municipality of Terschelling. Here you will find contact information about this municipality: https://www.terschelling.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://terschelling.org/en/horseback-riding.php

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/

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 Terschelling 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.

During a few brief periods there is a training done the Dutch Royal Air Force in NATO exercise location around Terschelling. 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 villages on Terschelling has to with many different factors, including wind direction and wind speed.

You can find more information about the military exercises on and around Terschelling 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

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

A telephone reservation is recommended. Often the use of beach wheelchairs is free. 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:

Strandpaviljoen West aan Zee

West aan Zee, Paal 8
tel. +31 562-448383

Strandpaviljoen De Branding

Midsland aan Zee
tel. +31 562-448411.

Strandpaviljoen Zandzeebar

Badweg 8, Formerum
tel. +31 562-445172

Strandpaviljoen Heartbreak Hotel

Oosterender Badweg 71, Oosterend.
tel. +31 562-448634

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

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 Terschelling 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.

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

No, you may not enter the dunes of Terschelling. This is to prevent damage. The main function of the dunes is to provide natural protection for the coast against the sea. Without the dunes a large part of the Netherlands would be under water.

In addition, almost all the dunes in the Netherlands is part of a nature reserve. They are an important part of biodiversity. In the dunes live many animals such as rabbits, foxes, deer, lizards and many species of birds. It's official forbidden to pick the plants and to chase animals in the Dutch dunes.

Furthermore you are (of course) allowed to walk on the created hiking paths.

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

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

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

There are on Terschelling two nudist beaches:

1) Beach located east of pole 12.
2) Beach located west of pole 8.

Display Nudistenstrand Tererschelling
on the map

All local surf information (including surfing schools) can you find on our special page: https://terschelling.org/en/surfing.php