ONE OF BEAT’S FAVORITE LOCATIONS

A Different Side of the Island

Everybody knows Terschelling in summer. Fewer people know it in autumn or winter, when the crowds are gone, the light turns gold and grey within the same afternoon, and the island shows a quieter, more romantic side of itself. Both versions are worth the trip, which is one reason Terschelling keeps landing on BEAT’s own list of favourite places to go.

Nature and Space

Start with nature, because that’s really what this island is. Dunes roll for kilometres before they drop into wide, flat beaches that seem to stretch further than the eye can follow, and behind the dunes lies the Terschellinger Bos, a forest originally planted to stabilise the sand and now a destination for hiking in its own right.

The numbers back up what it feels like to walk there: Terschelling is roughly one-tenth as densely populated as the Dutch mainland, and even sparser than countries like Ireland, France or Switzerland. In practice that means you can set out on a two-hour hike through the dunes and not cross paths with another person — something that’s genuinely hard to find anywhere else this close to home.

A Maritime History

The island has earned that space over centuries. Terschelling built its name on the sea as a harbour and whaling community, and that history is still visible, including the Brandaris lighthouse, which has guided ships since the 1500s. Today the same wind and water draw a different crowd: surfers, kitesurfers and blokart sailors use the beach as their training ground, and every winter the island hosts the very popular Berenloop.

Local Favourites

None of it would mean much without the people, though. Terschelling’s restaurants and hosts are unpretentious in the best way — no showing off, just good food and honest hospitality. For dinner, team BEAT keeps coming back to Hotel NAP, Flaman or DÚN. For lazy afternoons on the beach, it’s Zandzeebar or Heartbreak Hotel. De Bakker in Midsland does the best lunch on the island, and Elements by Dutchen is where to go if you need a relaxing stay by the sea.

The favourite way to arrive on the island is by sailboat ‘De Toekomst’, and it is exactly the kind of start an island like this deserves.

See You on Terschelling

We cannot wait to organize more expeditions on the Island and look forward to participating in the MooiWeer Trailrun this winter on the 27th of February 2027. Get in touch for more information.