Mudflat hiking: everything you need to know

Mudflat hiking has been on my bucket list for a while. I had read several blogs beforehand and also looked at the websites of different organizations. After all, you do mudflat hiking with a guide: you have no idea yourself about the tides and the best route. There are different types of mudflat hiking tours: a full or half crossing to Ameland or Schiermonnikoog or a wandering tour where you walk across a stretch of mudflats.

A reasonable level of fitness is necessary, though, because the pace can be fast. And walking through mud and water is pretty tough anyway.

The Wadden sea

The Wadden Sea stretches across the Netherlands, Germany, and Denmark, making it the largest area where sandbars dry during low tide. You can also find muddy strips of mudflats along the coast and dikes. It is also on the UNESCO World Heritage List and is not only a nature reserve but also very important for fishing. What makes mudflat hiking so unique is that you are just walking through the sea.

 

Where can you book a mudflat hiking tour?

There are several organizations where you can book a mudflat walk. Each organization offers tours for any level of experience, often tailored for children as well. Mudflats are becoming more popular, and especially in the high season, the tours can get booked up quickly. As an introduction, we started with a wandering tour starting from Noordpolderzijl of between 7-11 km which we booked with Wim Spijk.

Some practical tips for your first-time mudflat hiking

• Keep in mind the weather conditions. On the mud flats, it is often several degrees colder and there can also be much more wind. Mudflat hiking is also possible in bad weather
• In terms of clothing, it is good to put on several layers that you adapt to the weather. It is best to wear shorts or tight sports leggings because jeans that are wet will weigh much more heavily. In summer, a cap and sunscreen are not a luxury.
• Shoes are the most important thing during mudflat hiking. The organization recommends wearing high all-star shoes. You can buy cheap versions at different stores. Keep in mind, that you are probably not going to get these clean again. Boots or low shoes are not a good idea because they can get stuck in the mud. High shoes come with high socks: make sure your socks are above the shoes. If you don’t have shoes, you can often rent mud shoes from the organization.
• Be sure to bring a backpack with a waterproof bag for your electronics. We bought this waist bag that you can also easily wear around your neck. Depending on the type of trek, also bring new clothes and a towel in a dry bag.
• It’s handy to bring food and drink as well. Wading is quite tiring so a little extra energy never hurts.

 

Our experience with mudflat hiking

The venue was a café/restaurant at Noordpolderzijl. We went there a little early so we could have lunch there as well.

I was a little nervous beforehand: am I going to be able to handle it, isn’t it going to be too hard? The first part through the mud did not go very smoothly, I constantly had the feeling that I was going to fall (which in itself is not bad). But it kept me from really enjoying myself. So we went straight through our first sludge ditch: an interesting experience. But I got the hang of stepping through the mud: center of gravity forward and heel first. The fear fell away and the enjoyment could begin.

At several places, we stopped to learn more about the mud flats, the Wadden Sea, and the animals that live there. But in between the various stops, it is important to keep moving and keep walking. Otherwise, there is a chance you could get stuck, especially if you go through the small rivers or mudflats.

After the mud followed a large stretch on the beach. The pace was quite fast because we had an athletic group. I was the smallest of the group, which did not play to my advantage 🙂 .

 

When we thought we had come to the end of the mudflats, we were still going through the water. The water came up to our waists: fortunately, we had a fantastically beautiful day. Lots of sunshine and not a breath of wind: the ideal day to spend in the water.

When we got to the end of the mudflats, we took another look at someone who was fishing shrimp before we set off back to the dike. Here we were allowed to choose whether to take the easy route or the slightly more technical route. We chose the latter option: we were then allowed to go through some ditches. Our guide was very good: she guided us with ease across the mud flats and was very knowledgeable.

 

The view of the mudflats was also so beautiful and serene. We were alone with our group on the mudflats. While walking, all you could hear was the walking through the water and a little talking. It was enjoyable!

At the end of the hike, we were able to rinse off our legs and shoes in the lake at the cafe. We enjoyed some more with a glass of wine and a cake.

This mudflat hike was the ideal introduction to mudflat hiking; highly recommended. We will definitely do it again.

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