Sometimes, setting small goals helps us navigate a larger journey. Our plan: five islands in five years. A manageable challenge, yet significant enough to be meaningful. Terschelling was our starting point.
We found ourselves in the midst of an emotional whirlwind. The fertility journey brought uncertainty, hope, and disappointment—a cycle of medical appointments, tests, and waiting. It felt as if we were losing ourselves in the process. We needed something tangible, something energizing, something we could control.
That’s how our island series began—not grandiose, but just substantial enough to give us direction. And the moment we arrived on Terschelling, we felt it: this was a place to breathe, to step away from the thoughts that consumed us.
The Healing Power of Nature
The sea, the dunes, and the vast beaches created a landscape both calming and invigorating. On the North Sea shore, we stumbled upon immense jellyfish, eerily beautiful—almost otherworldly. The dunes became our pathway to wander, with the wind carrying away our worries. Each step in the sand anchored us in the present, helping us let go of the past and simply exist.
On the other side of the island, the Wadden Sea revealed a different world—ever shifting, sculpted by the tides. A living ecosystem in constant motion, where mudflats emerged and disappeared with the rhythm of the sea. Observing this self-sustaining balance made us feel connected to something far greater.
Nature in Its Purest Form
One of the most profound moments came during a boat trip to the seals. No enclosures, no interference—just untamed wilderness. We watched them basking on the sandbanks, their movements lazy and content, as the water gently surrounded them. This was their domain, their world, and we were privileged to witness it without intrusion. There was magic in the simplicity of observing and respecting nature as it is.
The Taste of the Island
Food is one of our ways of truly experiencing a place, and we always seek out local flavors. On Terschelling, every dish reflected the island’s soul. The venison on our plates had roamed its forests; the oysters we ate had been harvested from the Wadden Sea that very morning. Fresh, unaltered, deeply connected to the landscape—it enriched our journey in ways beyond flavor.
The Stories the Island Holds
Terschelling is more than nature and tranquility; it carries echoes of history. In the dunes and forests, remnants of World War II remain—bunkers that once held strategic importance. As we explored these silent relics, we realized how a place can hold layers of meaning—how beauty and history intertwine, and how the land preserves its stories long after voices have faded.
More than just a trip, our time on the island felt like a victory. It gave us something to anticipate, a purpose that fueled us. But above all, we simply enjoyed.
One island checked off, four to go. 💙
The Dutch Flame 
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