The Vlieland Hotel | Experience the charm of Vlieland

Fire beacon dune

At the top of the 40-meter-high Fire Beacon Dune, you'll find the lighthouse of Vlieland: the Fire Dune. By far, this is the smallest lighthouse of the Dutch Wadden Islands. Because the dune on which it is built is already high enough, the Fire Dune did not need to be as tall as the other lighthouses of the Wadden. We've measured it for you, and it's "only" 16.8 meters high in total. This is why the residents of Vlieland quickly gave it the nickname The Red Gnome. The cast-iron red tower resembles the lighthouse of Texel, but actually, the Fire Dune should stand in a completely different place. It's actually a design by Quirinus Harder, a nineteenth-century architect from Rotterdam. Originally, the Fire Dune served as the superstructure of the low lighthouse of IJmuiden. Fun fact: Quirinus Harder didn't stop at just one lighthouse in his career. He designed no less than 12 lighthouses, including those of Texel and Ameland. So the resemblance of the Fire Dune to the lighthouse of Texel is no coincidence.

The Vliehors Express

Vlieland - The Vliehors Express is not just a ride on the beach... Leave that to entrepreneur Aant van der Veen. "For the Vliehors Express, you step into a special military vehicle that can even move forward through the most impassable terrain." You board at the Badhuys, on the North Sea beach of Vlieland. When the weather is nice, the roof of the enormous vehicle can be opened. "Basically, we're just driving in a giant convertible," says Aant. The "convertible" is an old military vehicle from 1990. This vehicle was standing in a German bunker, waiting to be used, but was written off again after twenty years. That's when the Vliehors Express managed to acquire the vehicle, to convert it into an excellent all-terrain safari car with room for 50 people. In the front, you'll find Aant, and in the back, the faithful accordion player and narrator of the first hour: the almost 80-year-old Wouter. He narrates the journey and entertains you along the way with hits (and forgotten songs) on his quintessentially Dutch instrument. The two-hour journey first heads towards the military training ground, the Vliehors. Also known as the Sahara of the North. Kilometers of beach, dunes, and grass stretch out. But where you would normally spot sandpipers and godwits, here from Monday to Friday you mainly see spectacular fighter jets flying. A kilometer away from the Vliehors Express, they shoot at the targets set up in the area while flying. An incredible sight that you will never forget.

Fortuna Vlieland

Fortuna Vlieland is a great destination on the island with an exhibition and tasting space, a cinema, and a chapel with an icon. There is also plenty to do for beer enthusiasts and children. During a guided tour at Fortuna Vlieland, you will meet the brewer. He explains why Vlieland is so unique as a place to brew beer. You will receive information about the brewing process and the secret recipes of our Fortuna Vlieland beers. A visit to the cinema and the exhibition on the upper floor are part of the tour. We conclude with a tasting and views over the dunes and sea. Guided tours are available for adults and children aged 12 and above. Participation in the tasting is from 18 years old. Costs: €15.00 for adults and €9.50 for children aged 12-17.