Discover UNESCO Mud of Germany, Netherlands and Denmark
There are really obvious World Heritage Sites and there are more subtle ones. The UNESCO inscribed Wadden Sea definitely belongs to the latter of the two categories. Being nothing but a seemingly endless plain of continuous mud where one would expect to find the waters of the sea, understanding the universal value in the Wadden Sea honestly seems not an easy task, even for the die-hard heritage lovers…
Quick Facts
- The UNESCO site consists of a 500 kilometer long stretch of tidal mudflats between the coast of continental northwestern Europe and the range of Frisian Islands.
- This Natural Heritage Site received the UNESCO inscription in 2009 for its areas in Germany and the Netherlands, followed by Denmark in 2014.
- Included in this unusual UNESCO Site are intertidal sand and mudflats, salt marshes, sandbanks, sea grass meadows, beaches and dunes.
- If the weather permits, the Wadden Sea can be visited all year round and entirely free of charge.
The Wadden Sea of northern Germany
Typical UNESCO Wadden Sea Scene of Clouds, Wind and Mud in Germany
Rare Combination of Sun and Water at the Wadden Sea
Usual Wadden Sea Sight of seemingly endless Mud in northern Germany
UNESCO Heritage Mud is getting Deeper off the Shore
Getting Stuck in UNESCO Wadden Sea Mud of the Nordsee in Germany
Why this is a UNESCO Site
This is really a good question and it still seems well beyond my believe that mud can be a World Heritage Site, but apparently this world’s largest area of intertidal sand and mudflats is of universal value. This is mainly due to the special ecosystem that provides a unique habitat to numerous plant and animal species which perfectly adapted to the muddy conditions.
Thoughts and Observations
For many years my parents used to take me on vacation to the Nordsee in northern Germany, which happened to be the Wadden Sea. And until this day I still remember my greatest disappointment over the fact that every time when we arrived, after a seemingly endless drive in the car, there was not even any water to be seen. The only thing we could always find was mud, a seemingly endless plain of mud. This early childhood experience led of course to the conclusion that all beaches in the world would consist of mud instead of water…
While eventually learning about the other types of beaches, I also had to realize that the Wadden Sea was in fact a big exception. And this exception was in fact so great that even UNESCO honored it with a World Heritage title. So after having been to all sorts of beaches in the world, now on a first drive with our self-converted campervan, we had the chance to see the slippery UNESCO mud between our toes with a whole new appreciation. Some water for a swim would have been nice, but the smell of childhood memories in combination with the awareness that we were actually stepping on universal value, definitely helped to make this visit an unforgettable experience…
What to do at the Wadden Sea
Enjoying the Wadden Sea Mud from a Protective Strandkorb in Germany
Romantic Sunset over UNESCO inscribed Heritage Mud
Diving Nordsee Style with the Belly first into the Wadden Sea Mud
Tips and Recommendations
- If you don’t know what to do at the Wadden Sea, get a traditional Strandkorb (literally meaning beach basket) to help you brave the wind and enjoy the views of the seemingly endless mudflats.
- Everybody enjoys a sunset over the ocean, but only here you can actually enjoy a sunset over a sea of mud.
- Or even better: get involved real Nordsee style, as we did to the greatest frustration of our parents, and simply enjoy the muddy playground while diving in with your belly first.
Personal Rating
- Go right now!
- Definitely go soon
- Go if you are around
- Stop by if you are bored
- Consider missing it
This UNESCO Site makes it really tough to fully recommend it for a visit. The Wadden Sea is by all means a special place, but I would rather suggest making it the side-kick of another attraction, rather than the main destination of a trip.
Map of the Wadden Sea as per Waddensea-Worldheritage.org
Getting There
Since the Wadden Sea stretches along the coast of three different countries and borders the range of Frisian Islands, it can obviously be reached in many different locations and by various means of transportation. So the choice is all yours…
A Word of Warning
Walking the Wadden Sea is definitely a fun thing to do, but don’t walk alone and take extra care of the incoming flood. As you leave the coast the mud gets deeper and getting stuck entirely can happen quite quickly. Also the incoming tide can be much faster than you would expect and cut off your path to the shore with fast flowing streams called Priel. Be aware that drownings do occur!
Have you been to the Wadden Sea? Would you dive in belly first?
This post is part of Travel Photo Mondays and Sunday Traveler above.
Sounds like a great place to go if you’re seeking a free spa treatment … thanks for profiling this misunderstood World Heritage Site!
David recently posted…5 fun things to do on Corfu
Of course David! I love finding underrated UNESCO sites and the Wadden Sea was definitely a place that didn’t abide to obvious standards of world heritage…
Interesting. I wasn’t familiar with the Wadden Sea. Looks like a great spot for a mud bath.
elaine schoch recently posted…Capturing Travel Memories. My KODAK Moments App Reviewed (enter to win!)
Very true Elaine, the Wadden Sea would definitely the perfect place for a decent mud bath…
Nice way to have a therapeutic mud bath the whole day free of cost, minus the air fares and stay costs!. But whats there for vegetarians like me after frolicking for a long time?.
There is a salt desert for miles and miles in Kutch, Gujarat, India bordering Pakistan, which came to my mind as I was going through your blog, with wild asses in plenty!. Hope to have a tour around in India, in your company when you are here.
Have great journeys in the days to come
Haha, you are very right Srinivas! Having a free mud bath in a World Heritage site is definitely something you don’t get to every day. In terms of vegetarian specialties of the area, I actually have to pass. I personally consider myself vegetarian as well, but I do eat fish sometimes, especially when visiting the sea and the fresh fish-rolls of the area were absolutely excellent…
Interesting and kind of strange. I never would have thought of mud being a UNESCO site. I think I would find it weird to be sliding around in the mud.
Adelina // Pack Me To recently posted…Riding the Oregon Sand Dunes
Same here Adelina, I would never have thought that mud could be world heritage! But what do we know, the Wadden Sea is apparently a very unique place and sliding in the mud there wants to be appreciated accordingly… 😉
I have heard of the Wadden Sea but didn’t appreciate its UNESCO status. I’m wandering if the birding is incredible through here. Not a place to be wearing white!
Leigh recently posted…A Visit to Historic Hecla Island in Manitoba
You right Leigh, white might not be the best color to wear around the Wadden Sea! I actually didn’t know about its UNESCO status during my early visits, so this time around the mud could shine in a whole new light…
I didn’t actually realize that the Wadden Sea was actually at the North of Germany too, that is awesome because considering we are in Berlin at the moment we aren’t that far away from it, we must plan a trip there!
Franca recently posted…Our Blog Is At A Crossroads, Help Us Choose A Direction
Franca, while the Ostsee is pretty close to Berlin, the Nordsee with the Wadden Sea is still a good ride away from where you are. But when the weather is good it might still be good to take a trip there and maybe even visit famous places like Sylt…
What a unique place, and a testament to the truth that a place doesn’t have to be conventionally beautiful to be of great value.
On a different note, really like the fact that your writing focuses on architecture/ sculpture, and gives readers an interesting historical perspective from which to understand places and cultures.
the paper boat sailor @ Paper Boats recently posted…Far Out: A Photo Essay on Scotland’s Outer Hebrides
Thank you very much dear sailor! It is certainly true that the Wadden Sea does hold as much obvious beauty as many other beaches in the world, but it is still quite an interesting place to visit. That might actually be part of it’s appeal and the architecture plus sculpture parts seems to be the icing to the mud… 😉
Getting stuck can be quite dangerous. I’ve heard stories about such places. One can get stuck and then comes the high tide…
That is unfortunately very true. It is quite easy to get stuck in the Wadden Sea since the mud creates a vacuum, making it really difficult to get out again, especially if there is nothing to hold onto around… :/