Vlieland

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Vlieland

---

mapsize = 280px
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Netherlands
subdivision_type1 = Province
subdivision_name1 = Friesland
area_footnotes = (2006)
area_total_km2 = 315.79
area_land_km2 = 40.01
area_water_km2 = 275.78
population_as_of = 1 January, 2007
population_note = Source: CBS, [http://statline.cbs.nl/ Statline] .
settlement_type = Municipality
population_total = 1135
population_density_km2 = 28
timezone = CET
utc_offset = +1
timezone_DST = CEST
utc_offset_DST = +2

Vlieland (Pronunciation|467 Vlieland.ogg; _fr. Flylân) is a municipality in the northern Netherlands. The municipality of Vlieland has only one major town: Oost-Vlieland (West Frisian: "East-Flylân"). It is the second-least densely populated municipality in the Netherlands (behind Schiermonnikoog).

Vlieland is one of the West Frisian Islands, lying in the Wadden Sea. Counting from west to east, it is the second island in the chain; after Texel and before Terschelling. Vlieland was named after the Vlie.

Travel

Vlieland can be reached by ferry from the Frisian town Harlingen. The ferry ride takes about 1.5 hours and takes you across the Wadden Sea and across part of the North Sea. Tourists are not allowed to bring cars with them on the ferry. Another ferries run between De Cocksdorp on Texel and the westernmost point of Vlieland. The most common form of transport on the island is by bicycle. A network of cycle paths criss crosses the island. A bus service runs from the ferry terminal to the village and camp grounds after the arrival of a ferry, and some time before departure. There's a very small heliport near the village, but it is only used for SAR flights.

Landscape

The majority of the landscape of the island consists of dunes, but there are some wooded areas and small meadows. A large part of the island, the western part, consists mainly of sand. It's also referred to as the "Sahara of the north".

Towns

There is only one single village on the entire island Oost-Vlieland. There used to be a second one West-Vlieland but it disappeared in the waves of the see in 1736.

Tourism

Tourism is the main source of income on Vlieland. There are approximately 15 hotels, and several hundreds of apartments and holiday homes. Vlieland has 2 campgrounds.

External links

* [http://www.vlieland.nl Municipality of Vlieland]
* [http://www.vlieland.net Tourist Office website] ----