Coastal preserve
Wadden Sea
Netherlands, Germany, Denmark
A vast, shallow sea of tidal flats and islands running along the coasts of three countries, and one of the most important stopovers for migrating birds in the world.
A landscape shaped by the tide
Twice a day the tide drains away from huge expanses of mud and sand, then returns. Tidal creeks, salt marshes and a chain of low barrier islands, the Frisian Islands, frame the area. The name comes from the Frisian and Dutch word wad, meaning mudflat.
Why it matters for birds
The mudflats hold enormous quantities of worms, shellfish and other small animals. Hundreds of thousands of waders, ducks and geese stop here to refuel on migration or to spend the winter. Gulls, terns, spoonbills and herons breed here, and white-tailed eagles have returned as breeders.
Protection
The Netherlands, Germany and Denmark have cooperated on protecting the Wadden Sea since 1978. The Dutch and German parts became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009, and the Danish part was added in 2014.
Pressures
Centuries of dikes and land reclamation have made it one of the most human-altered coastal habitats on the planet. Invasive species, shipping, fishing and rising seas are ongoing concerns.
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