Ferry terminal Lauwersoog Live Cam

The ferry terminal at Lauwersoog stands as a marvel of mid-20th-century hydraulic engineering and coastal adaptation, perched on the edge of what was once the mighty Lauwerszee. Today, a sleek concrete pier juts into the intricate tidal channels of the Wadden Sea, serving as the launching point for ferries to Schiermonnikoog and symbolizing the Dutch mastery over water management.

Transformation of the Lauwerszee

Originally an open inlet between the provinces of Groningen and Friesland, the Lauwerszee was notorious for unpredictable storm surges and shifting shoals that periodically inundated scattered fishing hamlets. The catastrophic flood of 1960 galvanized the Dutch government to accelerate plans for closure, and by 1969 the iconic dyke was completed, severing the sea’s direct connection. The reclaimed basin was later christened the Lauwersmeer, a freshwater lake bounded by new dikes and sluice complexes that regulate water levels and manage salinity.