Amelān is one of the inhabited Dutch Wadden Islands just out of the Frisian mainland. Amelān consists mainly of sanddunes and is famous for its beautiful beaches.
There is a ferry service from the pier at Holwerd.
 
Wadden Islands are a work in process, tides and currents constantly erode the western side and grow sanddunes in the east, like het Oerd on Amelān. 
The islands thus slowly "walk" to the east and over time Amelān has lost the settlements Oerd and Sier to the sea. But the ferries proudly carry these names so they are not forgotten.
 
People have lived here since early times but the island is first mentioned as Ambla in an 8th century document.
The island enjoyed a semi-independent status as free lordship from 1424 until 1813 when it became part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. 
 
In the 18th century whaling brought great wealth to the island, in particular to the village of Hollum. But a high price was paid in ships and souls that were lost in the perilous waters of the Barents Sea.
In the 1870s a dike was build between Amelān and the mainland in an effort to reclaim land from the sea. But the sea handily won and soon the dike was history. Parts of it show up at low tide.
 
Presently Amelān thrives on tourism and in summer the island and the beaches can feel over-crowded. Luckily most people use a (rental) bike so it remains relatively quiet and civilized.
 
Last time we were on Amelān was in July 2017.
West
East
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Central
ferry