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The WEC is at risk of closing. Help us save it!

Please donate to help us continue our work, or come and visit us.

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Experience the Wadden Sea region like never before

There’s so much to experience at the WEC! Hop on board for a seal-watching tour, join an expedition in the harbor, or witness a seal release up close.

Programme Excursions

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Visit the seals in the seal hospital

The WEC (Wadden Sea World Heritage Centre) is the new home of Seal Centre Pieterburen. Will you be visiting the seals?

Plan your visit Tickets

Kom langs

Order online with discount

Open every day10:00 - 17:00

Save the WEC/Seal Centre

The WEC brings together seal rescue and rehabilitation, scientific research and education about the Wadden Sea. With more than fifty years of experience in seal care, we are committed to protecting the health of seals and their natural habitat. We also help visitors understand why protecting the Wadden Sea is so important.

Dankzij de overweldigende steun vanuit de samenleving is de voorgenomen faillissementsaanvraag verder uitgesteld. Dat geeft ons tijd en ruimte om te werken aan een toekomst voor het WEC. We zijn ontzettend dankbaar voor alle steun, maar we zijn er nog niet. De financiële situatie blijft zorgelijk en hulp is nog altijd hard nodig om ons werk voort te kunnen zetten.

Het is hartverwarmend hoeveel mensen vragen hoe ze ons kunnen helpen. Nog steeds is steun nodig om een faillissement definitief af te wenden. Help ons door te donating, een zeehond symbolisch te adopteren or visit the WECTogether, we can continue caring for seals in need and working towards a healthy Wadden Sea.

Help ons Read more

Tickets and activities

Wadden Sea Experience

Dive into the amazing world of the Wadden Sea! Visit the seal rescue center, find out how the Wadden were formed, get to know the animals that live here, and see how people interact with this special region. From the rooftop, enjoy the views over the Wadden Sea, Schiermonnikoog, Lauwersmeer, and the harbor.

Order tickets

Order online with discount

Dive into the mystery of the seal

Combiticket WEC x DoeZoo

The Great Seal Scavenger Hunt

Examination of a deceased seal

Seal watching trip

Bijzondere dakbewoners: visdiefjes

Seal watching tour with sandbank walk

Biology talk: from sharks to seals

Biologiepraatje: duik in het leven van een zeehond

Seal talk: rescue and care

Boat trip seal release

Ecolab: discover, explore and experiment

Film: Behind the Seals

Excursions and boat trips

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Join us on an excursion!

The WEC is beautifully situated in the harbour of Lauwersoog - the perfect hub for exploring the surrounding area! Hop aboard for a boat trip, book a walk, or join us on a nature exploration. Plus, if you go on an excursion, you'll get a discount on your WEC admission!

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Duik in het zeehondenmysterie in het WEC

There's a mystery in the Wadden Sea: many common seal pups are being born, yet the population is still declining. Why? We don't know exactly yet.

Ontdek nu tijdens je WEC-bezoek hoe onderzoekers dit mysterie proberen te ontrafelen. Ontmoet de zeehonden in ons zeehondenziekenhuis, leer meer over hun leven in de Waddenzee en ga met het hele gezin op een interactieve speurtocht. Zo ervaar je zelf hoe wetenschap ons helpt de zeehond én de Waddenzee beter te begrijpen.

Made possible with the support of WWF-NL

Non-profit foundation

What began in 1971 as a small-scale seal rescue centre in Pieterburen grew over more than 50 years into the largest seal hospital in Europe — the Seal Rehabilitation and Research Centre Pieterburen. As a public-benefit (ANBI) non-profit foundation, we are committed to the common seal in a healthy Wadden Sea. In Lauwersoog, we continue to build on this every day, with seal care, scientific research and nature education as our core activities.

For donors

We are able to carry out our work thanks to loyal donors, gifts and bequests. As a regular donor, you are always welcome to see for yourself what you are contributing to. Read more. Read more.

Discover the WEC with a group

Groups (15+ people)

Looking for an extra special day out, family day or celebration? At the WEC you can enjoy a unique seaside experience, optionally combined with hospitality or an excursion.

Groups

School trips

Visit the WEC with your class! Meet the seals and learn all about life in the Wadden Sea. Suitable for both primary and secondary education.

Schools

Children’s party

Celebrate your birthday in a truly special way with a party at the seals! Learn all about these remarkable animals and finish your celebration with Dutch mini pancakes (poffertjes) or chips (fries).

Kids

Business meetings

Did you know the WEC offers various options for meetings, events and receptions? Organise your gathering on the Wadden Sea coast, always including WEC admission.

Gatherings

Besluit tot faillissementsaanvraag verder uitgesteld

2 November 2026

Het bestuur en raad van toezicht van het WEC/Zeehondencentrum heeft besloten het voorgenomen faillissementsbesluit voorlopig op te schorten. Dankzij overweldigende steun vanuit de samenleving kunnen de activiteiten verantwoord worden voortgezet en ontstaat er tijd om te zoeken naar een toekomstpersp…

Lees artikel

Lost onderzoek Zeehondencentrum/WEC het zeehondenmysterie op?

14 October 2026

Het door WWF-NL gesteunde onderzoek laat zien: jonge gewone zeehonden verdwijnen niet, maar lijken in eerste levensjaar in toenemende mate te sterven

The WEC is facing bankruptcy

12 October 2026

Seal rescue efforts at risk
De directeur-bestuurder en de Raad van Toezicht van Stichting Zeehondencentrum Pieterburen vragen waarschijnlijk binnen twee weken faillissement aan. Reden is het wegvallen van verwachte steun vanuit Gemeente Het Hogeland en de provincie Groningen. Het zou betekenen d…