Terschelling

Population: 4,600

The island of Terschelling, in the North Sea, can be reached from Harlingen by motor launch or car ferry (advance booking for cars advisable); the crossing takes 2 hours. The island, 28km/17mi long with a total area of 9,500 hectares/23,750 acres, is the second largest of the West Frisian islands. Most of its area is occupied by nature reserves - the sandy Noordwaarder area at the west end and the better known Boschplaat (4,400 hectares/11,000 acres), a wooded area to the northeast. Along the north coast are numerous beaches.