Waddenzee/dijk

The Wadden area changes every day. With each tide, huge amounts of sand are moved and together with the wind these form islands, mud flats and new channels. It forms an ideal dwelling and resting place for thousands of (migratory) birds and a 'nursery ward' for the North Sea. It's also a perfect habitat for seals: at low tide the exposed sand banks are safe places to rest or nurse a seal pups. The Waddenzee has been on the Unesco World Heritage List since 2009.The Waddenzee attracts many tourists every year. They come to sail, to fish or hike the mud flats, as long as this is 'sustainable recreation', and nature is not endangered by it.Until the last Ice Age, the Wadden Islands were a closed beach bank. When the ice started to melt, the sea level rose. The force of the sea cut holes into the row of dunes and the peat area behind it flooded. The Wadden Sea was formed. The Dollard and Zuiderzee were created by a large storm surge in 1362. After this, land reclamation started on a small scale; the oldest sea dyke was constructed in 1200. Later on the dyke was reinforced with wooden poles. After another destructive storm surge in 1825, more expensive stone was used for the first time. The flood disaster of 1953, which struck the south-western part of the country, forced the government raise all dykes up to the minimum safe height, which is 7.65 metres above NAP (Normal Amsterdam Water Level).It is possible to climb the dyke at Noordpolderzijl. There are plans for a bike path from Lauwersoog to the Dollard, which will run in front of, over and behind the dyke.