DOLLARD

The Dollard holds a unique place in the Wadden Sea area. This brackish tidal area combines beautiful natural scenery with a rich history of vanished monasteries and villages. It poses a true challenge for the mudflat hiker because it experiences much more water flow per surface area during high and low tide than elsewhere in the Wadden Sea. As a result, the currents in the channels are strong and often deep with steep eroded walls. The large tidal difference leads to the deposition of a lot of sediment, and the Ems River also brings in a considerable amount of sediment. Walking is made difficult because with each step, you sink into the mud and have to forcefully pull your suctioned foot out, as if walking on plungers. This requires good physical condition. The Heringsplaat is located in the western Dollard.

Starting from the Carel Coenraad polder, we walk through a beautiful salt marsh to the mudflats of the Hooge Plaat, where there is a lot of mud. After about half an hour of strenuous mudflat hiking, you cross a channel to the Heringsplaat, where walking is relatively easy to good. According to the hydrographic chart for maritime navigation, there is a small island on the Heringsplaat that remains dry at average high water. However, during our exploration of this area, we only observed three small patches of English cordgrass. Standing on the Heringsplaat puts you right in the vast Dollard, providing a unique experience with a magnificent view of Delfzijl and the Punt van Reide to the west, Emden to the north, the German coast to the east, and Nieuwe Statenzijl and the tower of Finsterwolde to the south.

Details

• Departure point Dollard: Ambonezenbosje in the Carel Coenraadpolder (drive to the dike at Hongerige Wolf, municipality of Oldambt)
• Distance: 14 km
• Duration: 4 hours
• Difficulty: Heavy
• Price per person: €25.00