Terschelling

Terschelling
Skylge
Municipality and island
Lighthouse
Lighthouse
Museum West-Terschelling
Museum West-Terschelling
Mill of Formerum
Mill of Formerum
Emergency shelter for shipwreck victims
Emergency shelter for shipwreck victims
Flag of Terschelling
Flag
Coat of arms of Terschelling
Coat of arms
Highlighted position of Terschelling in a municipal map of Friesland
Location in Friesland
Coordinates: 53°24′N 5°19′E / 53.400°N 5.317°E / 53.400; 5.317
CountryNetherlands
ProvinceFriesland
Government
[1]
 • BodyMunicipal council
 • MayorCaroline van de Pol (VVD)
Area
[2]
 • Total
673.99 km2 (260.23 sq mi)
 • Land85.26 km2 (32.92 sq mi)
 • Water588.73 km2 (227.31 sq mi)
Elevation
[3]
6 m (20 ft)
Population
 (January 2021)[4]
 • Total
4,870
 • Density57/km2 (150/sq mi)
DemonymTerschellinger
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postcode
8880–8897
Area code0562
Websitewww.terschelling.nl
Official nameDuinen Terschelling
Designated29 August 2000
Reference no.2215[5]
Dutch Topographic map of Terschelling, Dec. 2014
The Boschplaat [nl]

Terschelling (Dutch pronunciation: [tɛrˈsxɛlɪŋ] ⓘ; West Frisian: Skylge; Terschelling dialect: Schylge) is a municipality and an island in the northern Netherlands, one of the West Frisian Islands. It is situated between the islands of Vlieland and Ameland.

Wadden Islanders are known for their resourcefulness in using anything and everything that washes ashore.[citation needed] With few trees to use for timber, most of the farms and barns are built with masts recovered from shipwrecks. The islands are surrounded by shipwrecks, and even today many containers wash ashore that have blown off the decks of container ships in the North Sea.[citation needed]

The main source of income on Terschelling is tourism. There is some agriculture, but a large part of the island has become a nature reserve.

Terschelling is well known for the yearly Oerol Festival during which theatre performances are played throughout the island, making use of its landscape and nature.

Terschelling can be reached by ferry from the mainland Frisian town Harlingen and in summer from Vlieland by high-speed catamaran.

  1. ^ "College van B&W" [Board of mayor and aldermen] (in Dutch). Gemeente Terschelling. Archived from the original on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
  2. ^ "Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2020" [Key figures for neighbourhoods 2020]. StatLine (in Dutch). CBS. 24 July 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  3. ^ "Postcodetool for 8881EB". Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland (in Dutch). Het Waterschapshuis. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
  4. ^ "Bevolkingsontwikkeling; regio per maand" [Population growth; regions per month]. CBS Statline (in Dutch). CBS. 1 January 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  5. ^ "Duinen Terschelling". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.