There is a place where heaven and earth share the same stage

Texel is part of the Wadden Sea, which is a World heritage site on the same footing as other world famous natural wonders on that list: like the Grand Canyon in the USA and the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. UNESCO underlines with the allotment of this prestigious predicate that the Wadden Sea has such natural value to the world that it deserves this protection and must be cherished and kept safe for future generations. The Wadden Sea World Heritage Site encompasses the Dutch, German and Danish parts of the Wadden Sea. It covers an area of almost 10,000 square kilometres along a coastal strip about 400 kilometres long. 

The area has been placed on this list because it's unique in its variety. The Wadden Sea has many different kinds of habitat and therefore offers a home to many plant and animal species. Furthermore the Wadden Sea is unique in the whole world in demonstrating how nature, plants and animals adapt themselves to constantly changing conditions in an area where fresh water (from land) and salt water (from the ocean) meet. Low and high tide alternate every six hours in the Wadden Sea, bringing about stunning changes to the landscape almost every minute of the day. 

The Wadden Foundation - the collaboration of the five tourist offices on the Dutch islands in the Wadden Sea - is pleased with the allotment. Chairman Jaap van der Ploeg reacts: "Thecoronation of this unique tidal landscape is totally justified. We sincerely hope that more people will come and discover the new World Heritage Site with their own eyes. A visit to one of our five pearls in the Dutch Wadden Sea - the islands Schiermonnikoog, Texel, Ameland, Vlieland and Terschelling -  will remain a fantastic way for people to discover the World Heritage Site". 

More dynamic info at facebook.