Frequently asked questions about the beach on Ameland

Can you ride horses on the beach on Ameland, and where can you book a beach ride?

Yes, on Ameland you may ride anywhere on the beach for most of the year; only from 1 June to 15 September is it restricted to between 19:00 and 07:00.

• Ballum: Rijstal Le Cheval on the Strandweg offers beach rides for all levels, and Rijstal De Blinkert runs beach rides all year by appointment.
• Nes: Rijstal 't Jutterspad offers rides through woods and dunes and along the beach.
• Bridle paths: away from the beach you may only ride on the designated bridle paths.

Where can you find information on the sea water quality on Ameland?

Up-to-date information on the bathing water quality at Ameland is available on zwemwater.nl.

• Status: good (safe to swim), warning (swimming allowed, possible health risk), negative swimming advice and swimming ban.
• Bathing season: from 1 May to 1 October the province measures the quality at the official bathing sites.
• Out of season: there are no measurements; you decide for yourself whether swimming is safe.

Can you borrow or rent a beach wheelchair on Ameland?

Yes, on Ameland there is a beach wheelchair at every bathing beach entrance, plus two electric beach wheelchairs.

• De Jutter: manual beach wheelchair at the KNRM post of every bathing beach entrance, including Strandpaviljoen Sjoerd (Strandweg 70, Nes), Strandpaviljoen Ballum (Strandweg 24, Ballum), 't Strandhuys (Strandweg 100, Buren) and The Sunset (Oranjeweg 61, Hollum); free and cannot be booked.
• Electric: at Strandhotel Buren aan Zee (Strandweg 85, Buren) and Sier aan Zee (Oranjeweg 59, Hollum); book via the municipality, ameland.nl, tel. +31 519 555 555.
• Season: the Jutters are available from 15 June to 15 September.
• Use: for beach and sea only; a Jutter needs someone to push.

Display Strandweg
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Can you rent a hooded beach chair (strandkorf) on Ameland?

As far as we know, there are no hooded beach chairs for rent on the beaches on Ameland.

• Alternative: many beach pavilions rent out sunbeds and windbreaks.

Can you hear air force exercises on Ameland?

Sometimes: for a few short periods a year the air force trains over and around Ameland, mainly outside the high season.

• Noise: how much you hear on the beach or in the village depends on wind direction and strength, among other things.
• Schedule: the Ministry of Defence announces exercises on its flight movements page (in Dutch).
• Complaints: via the Ministry of Defence noise complaint form.

Can you walk in the dunes on Ameland off the paths?

No, the dunes on Ameland are off limits outside the paths.

• Why: the dunes protect the land from the sea and are almost everywhere a protected nature reserve; walking on them damages the vegetation.
• Allowed: Walking and cycling on the marked dune paths.
• Nature: picking plants and disturbing animals is prohibited by law.

Can you fly a drone around Ameland?

You may not fly a drone over the Wadden Sea, the dunes and the nature reserves on Ameland (Natura 2000).

You may fly a drone as an individual in the vicinity of Ameland if you adhere to the rules. Just as on the road, safety in the air is important—for both you and others. These rules are designed to keep drone flying safe.

1. Check your drone and your liability insurance.
2. Do not fly over people, (rail)roads, buildings, and other structures. Advice: maintain at least 50 metres distance.
3. You must give way to all other aircraft and maintain distance from them.
4. You must fly at a safe distance from people and buildings.
5. You must always be able to see your drone.
6. You are not allowed to fly in the dark.
7. Do not fly higher than 120 metres.
8. Stay away from airports and other no-fly zones (at least 3 kilometres).
9. Filming or photography: respect everyone's privacy.
10. Flying over Natura 2000 areas (protected nature reserves) is not permitted.

The current drone regulations (for the vicinity of Ameland) can be found on the website of the Dutch government:
https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/drones.

However, drone regulations frequently change and are generally becoming stricter. We therefore advise you to regularly check if the current drone regulations have changed.

Commercial use of a drone?

You may only fly a drone commercially if you have a licence. You can apply for this licence at the Inspection for Living Environment and Transport (Il&T).

Commercial use is considered if you intend to make money with the drone, such as video production companies making aerial recordings. It may also be that you need a drone for your business operations. This applies, for example, to inspection companies wanting to view hard-to-reach places. In these cases, commercial use is also considered.

Is the beach on Ameland free to access?

Yes, the beach on Ameland is free to access.

• Costs: for example parking and renting a sunbed, windbreak or beach cabin.

Can you light a campfire on the beach on Ameland?

For reasons of public safety, the use of barbecues – as well as any open fire, such as campfires, fire pits or grills – is strictly prohibited on the beach of Ameland at all times.

Barbecues held indoors or on the terrace of a beach pavilion are exempt from this rule and allowed, provided they are arranged in consultation with the respective pavilion.

Is there a naturist beach on Ameland?

Yes, the naturist beach on Ameland is east of pole 18.

• More information: an overview of all naturist beaches is available from the Naturisten Federatie Nederland.

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What are the rules for sea fishing from the beach on Ameland?

Sport fishing from the beach of Ameland in the North Sea is open all year and throughout the day allowed. Be careful when inserting your rod to the other beach and sea users.

To sport fishing in the sea from the beach you will not need a license.

So even though sport fishing from the beach is allowed throughout the year, one thing remains; keep account of each other!

Can you rent a beach chair, sunbed, parasol or windbreak on the beach on Ameland?

Yes, at most beach pavilions on Ameland you can rent sunbeds, beach chairs, parasols and windbreaks by the day.

• Booking: usually you rent on the spot; on busy summer days it helps to arrive early or book ahead.

Are restaurants, beach pavilions and shops on Ameland open in the low season?

Most shops, beach clubs, bars, terraces and restaurants remain open during the weekends in the low season. Many are also open throughout the week.

Each year the low season on Ameland begins after the autumn holidays till the beginning of the spring holidays. Several shops, beach clubs and restaurants use this period to rebuild, renew or for vacation. As a result, during this low season period, not all stores are opened every day.

Furthermore there is no general period when all the restaurants, bars and shops are closed. All entrepreneurs determine the temporary closure individually. Therefore is there are, also in the low season, enough shops and restaurants opened for you to enjoy.

Are dogs allowed on the beach on Ameland?

• Only leashed dogs are allowed on the guarded beaches of Ameland during the period 15 June till 15 September between 10:00 till 18:00. On the other beaches are free-running dogs allowed.
• Outside of the above mentioned locations, period and time are dogs allowed (both loose and leased) on the beaches of Ameland.

Further, we also recommend reading the information board, with the local beach rules, which is often placed near every beach (entrance).

Where can you surf or take surf lessons on Ameland?

On Ameland you can take surf lessons and rent boards at Ameland Adventure, on the beach near Nes.

• Ameland Adventure: wave surfing (including children's and private lessons), rental, SUP and mega SUP, power kiting and kite buggy, at the first beach pavilion on the left at post 11.4.
• Kitesurf lessons: kite school Antix from Makkum teaches on Ameland's North Sea beach when the wind is right.
• Kite zones from 1 March to 1 November: only between posts 3 and 4, 8.2 and 11.3, and 17.4 and 19; west of the ferry pier kiting is allowed all year.

Are barbecues allowed on the beach on Ameland?

For reasons of public safety, the use of barbecues – as well as any open fire, such as campfires, fire pits or grills – is strictly prohibited on the beach of Ameland at all times.

Barbecues held indoors or on the terrace of a beach pavilion are exempt from this rule and allowed, provided they are arranged in consultation with the respective pavilion.

Are there public showers on the beach on Ameland?

Yes, several beaches on Ameland have free outdoor showers in season.

• Including: Nes, Hollum, Ballum.
• Season: the beach showers are in place from early May to late September.

Is metal detecting allowed on the beach on Ameland?

As far as we know, yes: amateurs may search with a metal detector on the beach on Ameland.

• Rules: heritage law, weapons law and the local bylaws (APV) also apply on the beach; valuable finds must be reported to the municipality.
• Municipality: Ameland belongs to the municipality of Ameland, which can ban detecting through its bylaws; if in doubt, check the current rules.
• Dunes: searching in the dunes is prohibited, to protect nature and the sea defences.
• Tidy up: always fill in any holes you dig.

What does the Blue Flag on the beach mean?

The Blue Flag is an international environmental award, granted annually to beaches and marinas that participate in the campaign and have proven to be clean and safe.

The goal of the Blue Flag programme is to continuously involve governments, entrepreneurs, and recreational users in the care for clean and safe water, beautiful nature, and a healthy environment. Holding a Blue Flag is a recognition of the efforts made by the beach municipality or marina operator in this area. For tourists, the Blue Flag is internationally the recognition and quality symbol for good beaches and marinas.

What are the criteria for the beaches?

• The bathing water is of excellent quality.
• The beach is kept clean.
• There are enough toilets and waste bins on the beach.
• Rescue materials and a first aid post are available on the beach.
• Information activities are organized to protect the natural environment of the sea, beach, and dunes.

More information: https://www.blauwevlag.nl/

Where is there wheelchair-friendly beach access on Ameland?

On Ameland the four bathing beach accesses at Hollum, Ballum, Nes, Buren work best in a wheelchair; that is also where the pavilions and lifeguard posts are.

• Beach wheelchair: each of these pavilions has a free Jutter beach wheelchair; Hollum, Nes and Buren also have a Tiralo that can go into the water.
• Electric: Buren has an electric beach wheelchair, with the key at Strandhotel Buren aan Zee; more can be booked through the municipality of Ameland.
• Note: no mats are laid over the sand to the waterline.

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