The WEC in Lauwersoog is the perfect starting and ending point for your journey of discovery through the Wadden Sea region. Explore the Wadden Sea Experience, watch the seals at the seal hospital, or join an excursion in the area.
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The WEC is the perfect place for young and old alike—an experience that touches, inspires, and activates. It is the ideal destination for a special day out with family, friends, or colleagues. Both inside and outside the WEC, you will truly experience the Wadden area.
The Wadden Sea Experience takes you on a journey through the story of the UNESCO World Heritage Wadden Sea. Through interactive exhibits, you will learn about the tides, the unique ecosystem, and how both nature and humans shape this area. You will also discover why protecting the Wadden Sea is so important.
Visit the interactive exhibition daily from 10:00 to 18:00 and learn everything about the Wadden Sea.
Discover the seal hospital and learn about the intensive care given to these animals.
Take a look at the Wadden Sea on one side and the Lauwersmeer on the other.
Experience what it is like to be a fish in the Wadden Sea. What obstacles do they face?
The fascinating inhabitants of the Wadden Sea are ready to introduce themselves to you! Each of these unique characters tells its own story about life in and around the Wadden Sea. In the Wadden Sea Experience, seal Pieter, spoonbill Billy, shark Tibby, diatom Tom, shrimp Laura, eel Sara and oyster Rifke share more about their lives in, on and around this special UNESCO World Heritage Site. Click on a Wadden creature and find out who they are and what makes them so special!
"I may look cute and cuddly, but I’m not! In the water, I become a fearless predator—the largest in the Netherlands. I only eat live prey; that makes me a true carnivore. When the tide is low, the Wadden Sea is my bedroom, but when the tide rises, I hunt in the North Sea."
"You can recognize me by my stylish feather ‘mullet.’ I’m very social, but I also take my time every day to clean my feathers. Every year, I fly all the way from the warm West African coast to the Wadden region to start a family with a new partner."
"I may not look impressive without a microscope, but I produce the oxygen you breathe! Many think we just stay in one place, but that’s not true! I’m actually quite chaotic—I move with the sea and the sun to maximize my oxygen production every day. They call me ‘the sunshine of the Wadden Sea.’"
"As a true globetrotter, I wriggle my way through all kinds of places around the world. I’m the mysterious eel, and the Wadden Sea is just a stop on my long and dangerous journey to America. My migration is full of obstacles, and humans don’t make it easy for me as I travel between salt and fresh water."
"I may be small, but I know exactly what I’m doing! I play a crucial role in cleaning up the sea. Cleaning is my passion, and my 10 legs come in handy. Along with other Wadden animals, I eat the leftovers that sink to the seabed. But watch out—I don’t eat plastic!"
"I know all the latest gossip in the Wadden Sea, thanks to my 6th and 7th senses! I was gone for a while, but now I’m back, and I love it here. The Wadden Sea is my nursery—this is where my babies are born. People and animals fear me, but I’m actually a friendly shark who only eats fish!"
"I’m a true social creature! Together with my oyster friends, I build oyster reefs. But we don’t just live there alone—we gladly open our home to many other Wadden creatures. I was originally brought here from far away, but now I proudly call the Wadden Sea my home. Life as an oyster in the Wadden Sea is chill and relaxed!"
Welcome to the WEC, located in the harbour of Lauwersoog. This is the place where nature, science, and education come together to explore the beauty and fragility of the Wadden Sea. Our mission is to create a healthy balance between humans and nature—for the world of tomorrow.
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At the WEC, there is plenty for children to do: feel what it is like to be a fish and watch the swimming seals. Come and explore!
On an excursion with your whole class? Or go through the Wadden Sea Experience together? Everything is possible!
Several amazing rooms are available for a conference, meeting or wedding.
