Welcome to the Wadden Sea World Heritage site
The Wadden Sea is the largest tidal flats system in the world, where natural processes proceed undisturbed. It extends along the coasts of Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands.
The Dutch-German Wadden Sea became World Heritage in 2009, followed by the Danish part in 2014. The Wadden Sea was inscribed into the UNESCO World Heritage List for its globally unique geological and ecological values. Nowhere else in the world is there such a dynamic landscape with a multitude of habitats, shaped by wind and tides. Biodiversity on a worldwide scale is reliant on the Wadden Sea.
Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands have been joining forces for its conservation for over 30 years, taking responsibility of preserving this irreplaceable ecosystem for the benefit of present and future generations.
News – latest stories from the Wadden Sea area
Highlights – a few things everyone should know about the Wadden Sea
Fact
469,000 pairs
A regular census of 31 breeding bird species found 469,000 breeding pairs. This indicates favourable food availability and natural breeding success. Six species have over 25% of their north-western European population breeding in the Wadden Sea.