De Fietspaden

Schiermonnikoog is a Dutch Wadden Island with a special rule: visitors are not allowed to bring cars, and most of the island is a national park, so the most natural way to travel is on foot or by bicycle. The cycling paths, De Fietspaden, form a network that links the village, the beaches, the dunes and the salt marshes, and they offer a peaceful way to see a landscape that is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Wadden Sea. The paths are flat and well maintained, with signposts at junctions.

The island is a good place for cyclists because of its small size and varied scenery. The official walking and cycling routes include five walking routes between three and twenty kilometres, three cycling routes between ten and twenty kilometres and one combined walking and cycling tour of sixteen kilometres, so there is a choice for different abilities and tastes. The routes pass through the dune landscape, where marram grass, sea buckthorn and low shrubs hold the sand in place, and across the salt marshes on the Wadden side, where the plants are covered by the sea at high tide and the birdlife is rich.

The beach on the North Sea side is wide and long, and it is possible to ride along the dunes to reach it, then leave the bike and walk across the sand. Bike rental shops near the harbour in the village supply a range of bikes, including children's bikes, tandems and electric models, and many visitors hire one for the whole stay. Riding with the wind behind you is a pleasure, and riding into it is a challenge, which is why electric bikes are popular.

Along the way, there are rest stops and cafes, including the beach pavilions in summer, and information points explain the nature of the island. In the Kobbeduinen, dune areas in the east, you may see birds and, in some seasons, large numbers of migrating geese, and seals can be spotted on the sandbanks in the Wadden Sea. Many visitors cycle to the lighthouse and the old harbour, and the village itself has shops and restaurants.

The cycle paths suit families, couples and nature lovers. Stay on the marked paths to protect the dunes and the wildlife, bring windproof clothing, water and sun protection, and check the weather. Spring and autumn are quieter than summer.