Above the best map we have traced thus far covering the former lands of Frisia or of Frisians, and the basis for laying out the Frisia Coast Trail.
The first nautical charts in Northern Europe were created in the region of (former) Frisia. This because navigation in the tidal waters of the Wadden Sea was particular dangerous. The first charts were quite simple representations but with the large-format atlas Spieghel van de Zeevaerdt by the Westfrisian (born in Enkhuizen) Lucas Janszoon Waghenaer, published in AD 1584-1585, cartography as a whole made a huge step forward in the world. For the first time the coast of Frisia was properly mapped (oh, and the rest of the world too).
Below Waghenaer’s nautical charts, starting in the south in Flanders, Belgium following the coast all the way to southern Jutland, Denmark; the Frisia Coast Trail as it were:
Trail Map
If the charts above are too unpractical for you to hike the Frisia Coast Trail, we have provided for an up-to-date Google Map with the trail. All different stages and sections separately available, including walking distance. Also, we have added different layers to the map, namely:
- The Trail
- Points of (historic) interest
- Parks & Conservation areas
- Lighthouses
- Shelter & Sleeping
- (music) Festivals
- Drowned islands
“History makes borders, the rest is geography”
Devoldere 2022
Following the very nature of the coast, we decided to split the hike by the rivers that subdivide the delta, and historically subdivided the different regions of Frisia. In total there are 9 stages to cover. In the drop down menu ‘Trail’ you will find a description of each stage, including links with a first, visual impression of the stage and the most relevant blogpost to read.
Frisia Coast Trail 