The Wadden area is unique in several respects. In June 2009 a large part of the Wadden was added to UNESCO's World Heritage List because of the dynamic, varied landscape and the associated richness of species. In the last 500 years, man has had an increasing influence on the area.
The origin of the Wadden
The wadden region is still young:it was formed about 8,000 years ago after the last ice age. Due to the melting of the ice caps, the sea level rose and the water flooded the largely dry North Sea. Due to ebb and flow, large amounts of sand were pushed to the coast. This sand accumulated behind rocks and vegetation. In addition to the Wadden Islands, the current mudflats were also created, which largely dry up during ebb and submerge at high tide.
- Wadden region:subsurface, origin and climate change (Knowledge link article)
Inhabitants of the Wadden
Archaeological research shows that the Wadden Sea Region was inhabited from the beginning of the Iron Age (7th century BC – 12 AD). Because the area was still regularly flooded, the inhabitants lived on mounds (in Friesland) and wierden (in Groningen):artificial mounds that were raised from earth and sods. The earliest inhabitants lived from fishing and agriculture. Places that arose from a mound in Friesland often have the ending -um (Dokkum, Kollum) or -werd (Holwerd, Ljouwert, Frisian name for Leeuwarden).
- The economy of the Wadden area (Knowledge link article by Tim van Oijen, Wadden Academy)
Language of the Wadden
The Wadden Islands were originally populated by Frisians. However, due to their orientation towards the sea, the islanders came into contact with all kinds of different population groups. The inlet between Vlieland and Terschelling formed an important transit route to the Zuiderzee. This explains why the Wadden Islands played such a crucial role in the VOC era. The islanders came into contact with the Dutch on the VOC ships. This also had an impact on the language:Frisian mixed with Dutch.
- A bird's eye view of the Wadden dialects (Knowledge link article in collaboration with Waddenmagazine)
- Oerol is an island dialect (Knowledge link article about the dialect of Terschelling)
- Wadden dialects:on the brink of death (KL article about Schiermonnikoogs)
- A real Ameland speaks dialect (KL article about the dialect of Ameland)
A forgotten history
The history of the Wadden Islands is still clearly visible in the landscape. For example, the commander's houses and the whale jaws on Ameland are reminiscent of whaling. On Texel, the bunkers still stand out. They remind not only of the German occupiers, but also of the Georgian soldiers who served the Germans as prisoners of war. They revolted just before Liberation Day. Texel was only liberated by the Canadians on 20 May.
- The Russian War:a forgotten Texel tragedy (Knowledge link article)
Culture of the Wadden
In the nineteenth century, the rudder on the Wadden turned one hundred and eighty degrees:fewer and fewer islanders sailed at sea; more and more sought refuge in the tourist industry. Today, tourism is the largest source of income. That has left its mark on the island communities. However, the tourists do not only have a negative effect on the preservation of the island's language and culture. You can see this not only in the vitality of Amelands, but also in the great enthusiasm for local parties such as Sunderklaas.
- Overrun by tourists (Knowledge Link Article)
- The Texelaar, the other side and the party that makes the difference (Knowledge link article)
- The boat:small sociology of the back and forth (Knowledge link article)
Wadlopers and waders
Not only tourists, but also birds flock to the wadden region for their rest. But many wading birds are disturbed by recreational activities, such as kite surfing or mudflat hiking. How quickly the bird is startled depends on the species. The golden plover, for example, is more tolerant than the curlew or redshank. Many birds adapt to the recreation:they temporarily look for a quieter area to return to when the tourists have disappeared.
- Tourists and birds share the Wadden (Knowledge link article)
The future of the Wadden
The earth is slowly warming due to the emission of CO2. The temperature in the Wadden Sea is also increasing:in summer it regularly exceeds 20 degrees Celsius. A temperature that is not equally pleasant for all sea inhabitants. The growth of mussels and cockles, but also of plaice, has decreased in recent years. The climate in the Wadden Sea is becoming more attractive for other species. Not only the sea bass, but also the Pacific oyster has been doing well in the Wadden Sea in recent years.
- Biodiversity of benthic animals in the western Wadden Sea has increased over the past 40 years (NIOZ)
- Ecological effects of warming of the Wadden Sea (Knowledge link article by Maria van Leeuwe, Waddenmagazine)
- Wadden region threatens to become a bottleneck for knots (KL article in collaboration with RUG)
- Enough cockles, but too little meat (KL article in collaboration with Bionieuws)
- After the greenhouse comes the ice age (Knowledge link article in collaboration with Astronet)
- Cockle war (Knowledge link article in collaboration with NIBI)
- The mystery of the nun in the Wadden Sea (Kennislink article in collaboration with NIBI)
- The wonder of the Wadden Sea (Knowledge link article in collaboration with Bionieuws)
- Will the Wadden remain the Wadden? (Knowledge link article in collaboration with People and Science)