The red-and-white striped Bornrif lighthouse rises above dunes covered with beach grass, under a sky of large white clouds.

Two weeks on a Wadden island

Ameland, between sea and dune

Photographs from Ameland, one of the Dutch Wadden Islands. Wide beaches, dune grass, gulls and a red-and-white lighthouse, all taken in August 2026.

An orange lifebuoy marked "Ameland" hangs in a white wooden rack on a ferry deck, a green life-ring sign mounted on the wall behind it.

Crossing over

Ameland lies off the coast of Friesland, and the only way to get there with a camera bag is the ferry. These photographs were taken from mid to late August 2026. The first ones come from the crossing: a lifebuoy in its rack, white water along the hull, a pilot boat in the harbour. The island itself is largely a long, low line of dunes, with a lot of sky above it.
The black, yellow, and blue flag of Ameland hangs from a pole mounted on a brick cottage, with a brick path and more village houses leading into the background under a sunny sky.

The flag of Ameland

Ameland’s coat of arms and flag show beams and crescent moons. A legend explains them with a theft. Three Amelanders are said to have crossed to Terschelling by moonlight and taken the beams of a gallows. Where the symbols really come from is not known. Another reading links the beams to the villages of Hollum, Nes and Ballum, and the crescents to the Crusades.
A statue of a hooded figure in oilskins holds up a lantern with the sun shining through it as a sunstar, with fields and a low fence in the foreground.

Held back by a dyke

Near Ballum stands De Dijkwachters, a bronze sculpture by Frans Ram from 1991. Two rescue workers – tied together by a rope – look out over the Wadden Sea. The sculpture marks the completion of the last stretch of the island’s dyke to be raised to Delta height. I photographed it against the evening sun with a wide lens.
A juvenile gull flies low over the beach with wings outstretched, while another gull runs along the wet sand near breaking waves.

Some company on the beach

Gulls came along on almost every walk. A young Pontic gull crossing the surf, a black-headed gull standing still on wet sand, and a small group facing into the wind with a ship far behind them. On an island this open, the wind decides it all: where you walk, how long you stay out, and which way the birds face.
A lone tree stands amid dune grass and scattered bushes on Ameland, with a wide sky of scattered clouds above.

“Little tree, big sky.”

An orange lifebuoy marked "Ameland" hangs in a white wooden rack on a ferry deck, a green life-ring sign mounted on the wall behind it.
A yellow and white pilot boat named Amasus moored at a dock, with a large ferry approaching across open water in the background.
A large whale tail statue painted with marine animals sits in dune grass before the Natuurcentrum Ameland observation tower, a rainbow arcing over storm clouds above.
A wooden sign reading "Willemspad" points toward a sandy path through dunes leading to the beach, with the sun shining low in a partly cloudy blue sky.
Dune grass blurs in the foreground as the red-and-white striped Bornrif lighthouse rises above trees and rooftops under a cloudy sky.
One dune, one cloud, one walker
A translucent green wave curls and breaks into white foam, more breaking waves visible on the horizon under a pale blue sky.
A juvenile gull flies low over the beach with wings outstretched, while another gull runs along the wet sand near breaking waves.
A group of gulls stands on a sandy beach with waves breaking behind them and a fishing boat on the horizon.
Several brown and white cows graze in grassy dunes beside a paved path, with a colorful sunset sky and scattered clouds behind them.
A steep-gabled brick house with white-framed windows and a black front door sits between two neighboring houses, a small front garden with flowering bushes and a black picket fence in front, under a partly cloudy blue sky.
A statue of a hooded figure in oilskins holds up a lantern with the sun shining through it as a sunstar, with fields and a low fence in the foreground.
The sun shines through a clump of beachgrass atop a sand dune, casting long shadows across the sand toward the camera.
The red-and-white striped Bornrif lighthouse rises above dunes covered with beach grass, under a sky of large white clouds.
Two silhouetted figures walk across a wide sandy beach on Ameland as the sun sets low on the horizon, wisps of cloud streaked across the sky above.
A wooden beach pavilion on stilts sits atop dune grass, its windows lit, under a cloudy sky glowing orange from the setting sun.
A flock of sanderlings stands on wet sand at the water's edge, one bird stretching its wings wide.
Nes harbourNatuurcentrum, NesWillemspad, BurenbornrifZwanewater StuifdijkBallumDe DijkwachtersWillemspadBornrif lighthouseGroene Strand BallumWesterpadBornrif lighthouse

Going to Ameland

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The postcards

Ameland, August 2026

An orange lifebuoy marked "Ameland" hangs in a white wooden rack on a ferry deck, a green life-ring sign mounted on the wall behind it. Going to Ameland Sep 14, 2026 The black, yellow, and blue flag of Ameland hangs from a pole mounted on a brick cottage, with a brick path and more village houses leading into the background under a sunny sky. Vlag van Ameland Oct 05, 2026 A yellow and white pilot boat named Amasus moored at a dock, with a large ferry approaching across open water in the background. Boat to Ameland arriving Sep 12, 2026 A large whale tail statue painted with marine animals sits in dune grass before the Natuurcentrum Ameland observation tower, a rainbow arcing over storm clouds above. Rainbow over Natuurcentrum Ameland Oct 07, 2026 A wooden sign reading "Willemspad" points toward a sandy path through dunes leading to the beach, with the sun shining low in a partly cloudy blue sky. Willemspad Oct 10, 2026 Two riders on horseback are silhouetted crossing a tidal channel on the beach at Ameland, under a golden sunset sky. Low Tide Horse Riding Sep 16, 2026 One dune, one cloud, one walker One dune, one cloud, one walker Sep 21, 2026 A translucent green wave curls and breaks into white foam, more breaking waves visible on the horizon under a pale blue sky. Translucent surf Oct 13, 2026 A juvenile gull flies low over the beach with wings outstretched, while another gull runs along the wet sand near breaking waves. Pontic Gull Oct 15, 2026 A group of gulls stands on a sandy beach with waves breaking behind them and a fishing boat on the horizon. Seagull gang and ship Oct 23, 2026 Several brown and white cows graze in grassy dunes beside a paved path, with a colorful sunset sky and scattered clouds behind them. Cows in the dunes Oct 03, 2026 A steep-gabled brick house with white-framed windows and a black front door sits between two neighboring houses, a small front garden with flowering bushes and a black picket fence in front, under a partly cloudy blue sky. Ballum Oct 04, 2026 A statue of a hooded figure in oilskins holds up a lantern with the sun shining through it as a sunstar, with fields and a low fence in the foreground. De Dijkwachters Oct 06, 2026 The sun shines through a clump of beachgrass atop a sand dune, casting long shadows across the sand toward the camera. Backlit beachgrass Oct 22, 2026 The red-and-white striped Bornrif lighthouse rises above dunes covered with beach grass, under a sky of large white clouds. Lighthouse Bornrif in the dunes Oct 24, 2026 Two silhouetted figures walk across a wide sandy beach on Ameland as the sun sets low on the horizon, wisps of cloud streaked across the sky above. Day's end at the beach Oct 01, 2026 Layered clouds glow orange and gold around a bright setting sun, with a dark silhouette of dunes and coastline below. Red end Sep 19, 2026