Boschplaat (Terschelling)

What makes the Boschplaat so special

The Boschplaat is the most easterly part of Terschelling, and also the most unspoilt. No buildings, no lighting, no roads for cars. What you do have is a vast salt marsh that merges into the Waddenzee, dunes that give way to exposed sandflats, and a silence that is rarely found on the mainland. All of this makes this Natura 2000 area one of the most versatile photography locations in the Netherlands.

Light, sky and season

Autumn is the best time to visit. Bird migration brings large groups of wading birds and shorebirds to the flats and marshes. The low autumn sun delivers warm, raking light that brings out the texture of the grass and the creeks in the mudflats beautifully. Early in the morning at low tide, the mudflats lie completely deserted and you can work without other visitors wandering into frame.

In summer it gets busier, and during the breeding season a large part of the area is closed to visitors, from around 15 March to 15 August. Always check the current access rules before you go.

Astrophotography on the Boschplaat

The Boschplaat falls within the Dark Sky Wadden, one of the darkest areas in the Netherlands. On clear nights the Milky Way is visible to the naked eye. For astrophotography, eastern Terschelling is ideal: you are far from the light dome of the mainland, and the flat horizon above the Waddenzee gives room for wide compositions where water and starry sky meet. A wide angle around 16 to 24mm works well here, combined with a high ISO and an aperture as wide as your lens allows.

Practical information

You reach the Boschplaat by bicycle or on foot from Oosterend, the most easterly village on Terschelling. Allow around eight to ten kilometres each way. There is no parking in the area itself. Bring enough water and make sure you wear waterproof footwear, as the paths can be wet and muddy. A telephoto lens of 300mm or more is useful for birds at a distance, but for landscape and astrophotography shorter focal lengths work perfectly well.

Sources and further reading

• Staatsbosbeheer – De Boschplaat
• Dark Sky Wadden
• VVV Terschelling