Welcome to the WEC (World Heritage Centre Wadden Sea), located in the port of Lauwersoog, right next to the Wadden Sea. At the WEC, you will experience the Wadden Sea region in a new way: through an interactive exhibition, a seal hospital and unique views from the entire building. Our goal? To create a healthy balance in the Wadden Sea region - for the nature of today and the world of tomorrow.
The WEC (Wadden Sea World Heritage Centre) was born out of a desire to give Seal Centre Pieterburen a future-proof base. The location in Pieterburen was not sustainable and offered too few opportunities to properly convey our wider message - a healthy seal is the indicator of a healthy Wadden Sea.
Therefore, the idea was born for a World Heritage Centre with a broader focus on the Wadden Sea - a place where nature, science, education and experience come together. In doing so, the seal remains a powerful symbol, a recognisable icon of the Wadden Sea and an ambassador for nature conservation.
With the WEC, we carry the Seal Centre's valuable history forward and give it a new, sustainable future.
An important part of the WEC is the new seal hospital, where we will build on all the knowledge and experience we have gained over the past 50 years at Seal Centre Pieterburen.
The WEC offers visitors a unique experience, both indoors and outdoors. Learn all about the Wadden Sea in the interactive Wadden Sea Experience, have a cup of coffee overlooking the sea or go on an excursion in the area.
At the WEC, you will meet ecologists, biologists, veterinarians, scientists and students who study life in the Wadden Sea together. This way, they and you get to know the special ecosystem of the Wadden Sea better and better.
The WEC has its origins in Seal Centre Pieterburen, founded in 1971 by Lenie ’t Hart. What began as a simple rescue location grew into the largest seal hospital in Europe.
In the WEC, the Seal Centre has a new home base in the middle of UNESCO World Heritage Wadden Sea. Not only seal care is central, but also conservation and research into the unique habitat they live in: the Wadden Sea.
The familiar way of working from Pieterburen - caring for animals in need, scientific research and education - will continue unabated. The Seal Centre is now part of a larger whole and continues to exist as the Seal Centre Pieterburen Foundation.
The WEC (World Heritage Centre Wadden Sea), designed by the Danish architectural firm Dorte Mandrup, reflects the dynamics of the Wadden area and creates a natural connection between indoors and outdoors. Using wood and other weather-resistant materials, the centre is fully resistant to the rugged wind and the location outside the dikes of Lauwersoog.
More about the building
Working at the WEC means contributing to the preservation of the UNESCO World Heritage Wadden Sea and helping to achieve a healthy balance between people and nature. Come and work in a place where nature, science, and experience come together.
Read the latest news about the WEC, new developments, and special events. Discover what is happening in and around the WEC and stay informed about updates, activities, and scientific discoveries.
