Saturday 21 June 2008

The Island



This map "Kaart van Vlieland" is your reference for the next couple of entries. It shows the locations of the names you will encounter in my descriptions.

Vlieland is a smallish island, stretching 12 miles southwest to northeast, some 20 miles off the Dutch mainland. Its southwestern extremity, Vliehors, is a huge sandbar. The Ministry of Defense uses it as a shooting range for jet fighters. The other main part is the village, Oost Vlieland [East Vlieland]. There was another village, West Vlieland, which was taken by the sea in 1736. It now lies a few miles offshore from the Vliehors. The other locations, marked in green, are the forestry plantations.
Cars are banned from the island, save for islanders, meaning the primary modes of transport are legs and cycles. The one main road, which has a tar covering, runs all of 7 miles from the marina to the barracks. Shell-paved offshoots lead towards the western beaches, and are named after the breakwater dams.
When I describe the island, I will not try to translate the names. The descriptions will have to suffice.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Very Interesting!~

Blessings!~

Susan

Anonymous said...

Interesting...very tiny and also very remote.  Glad you didn't involved in the shooting rage part of the island. Linda

Anonymous said...

Thanks for teh map I do like maps and "seeing" where my friends are. Looking forward to your next entries...as I always do.  I have only ever been to Holland once and that was many many years ago when I took Mum on her very first flight from Edinburgh we went as I think is possibly most peoples first visst to see the beautiful bulb fields the Kuekeholfh gardens (not the right spelling I know !!  but has that ever stopped me LOL !!)  I have been just thinking that it is aplce that might well be nice for a wee break as it should be wheel chair able.  Love for now  Sybil x

Anonymous said...

It sounds like a quiet tranquil place, no cars, must be bliss.
Mind you the shooting range sounds a bit worrying!!!
Have a good Sunday.
Hugs
Carolxx

Anonymous said...

Sounds like an idyllic place to be
hugs Jayne