Frequently asked questions

The WEC will be the place to experience the Wadden area. It is much more than a building in Lauwersoog. The WEC is the Workshop of the Wadden and builds on sealcenter Pieterburen. In the WEC we join forces with curious researchers, sustainable fishermen, involved residents and progressive entrepreneurs. As a visitor, you can follow along with everyone who works here for, with or on the Wadden Sea. By also experiencing, learning, researching and meeting people ourselves, we work together for the Wadden area.

Of course: everyone is welcome to visit the World Heritage Centre Wadden Sea. The public transport connection is much better than to Pieterburen. Both with the province of Groningen and with the province of Friesland is the WEC easy to access by public transport.   

The centre will be The Working Hub of the Wadden Sea. You can watch the people who do their daily work there. This could be scientists working on their research, or seal nurses in the sealcare. We will involve you in all the work we do and also invite you to participate! In addition, an interactive experience will be developed through the enitre building. You will discover the natural processes that give this area its UNESCO status and get to know the area's special plants and animals. And, of course, you will learn all about our human influence on the area.     

Everyone is welcome! If you’re a naturalist, a fan of the Wadden Sea or like to visit our seals, the WEC is an experience for everyone.

In this case, it is more sustainable to build a new center. First, because our existing building no longer meets today's requirements. It is extremely inefficient and expensive to operate. New construction is more sustainable and affordable than a major renovation. The new center will be in a much better location: On the Wadden Sea in a much more accessible location. Sustainability is key in the development of the WEC. The building is very energy-efficient and gas-free, with all installations working on electricity. This electricity is sustainably generated through solar panels on the roof and above our parking lots. In addition to a fossil-free energy supply, we use sustainable materials in the building. For example, in the building with a Scandinavian look, we apply renewable bio-based materials wherever possible, including the wooden facades and insulation material. We are also building circularly with various materials such as recycled jeans for acoustic ceiling finishes and the reuse of copper slag blocks and the former lock gates on the site. 

We want to create awareness of how valuable and at the same time how complex human's relationship with the Wadden Sea is. For this, we need a location to experience the Wadden area. Of course, this is best done at the location itself: right next to the Wadden Sea. Moreover, Lauwersoog is an artificial working island, and thus lies at a hard intersection between "culture" and "nature". In few places on the Wadden Sea is this separation so emphatically experienced. We find this an inspiring fact: especially since we want to create awareness on the relationship of human with nature.  

The Sealcentre is moving to WEC Waddenzee in Lauwersoog. During the spring of 2025 the new building will open its doors to the public. The seals will get a better accommodation and we will involve our visitors in all the work we do.

The building in Pieterburen will probably be sold. We are in consultation with the municipality of Het Hogeland to make this possible. We feel it is important that the future destination suits the site and meets the wishes of local residents. The proceeds will be used to finance the property in Lauwersoog.     

Yes and no. We are continuing what our mission has been for years: a healthy seal in a healthy sea. For years, we have worked not only to take care for the seal, but also to prevent seals from getting into trouble as well as to investigate their habitat: the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Wadden Sea. However, we do broaden our mission: we want to provide a home for working on the future of the Wadden Sea region. A future where people and nature are in balance. A place to come together, exchange ideas, engage in conversation, inspire each other and work together on a sustainable future for the Wadden Sea region and far beyond. Together with everyone who steps inside our doors, we explore and learn about and from this special UNESCO World Heritage Site. We activate people and encourage everyone to contribute to a sustainable and healthy Wadden Sea. Together, we build healthy relationships between people and nature.   

Only when needed (in case the seal isn't able to make it own it's own), just as it is now.    

In total, there is a capacity to accommodate 75 seals at the same time at the new centre. That corresponds roughly to the capacity we currently still use in Pieterburen. 

Our priority is the rehabilitation of seals. This is also due the fact that our building isn’t arranged to rescue other sea mammals. If there is an urgency in rehabilitating other sea mammals we’ll be flexible and look with other parties to facilitate this in the best way as possible.  

We will organise the release of seals in a similar way as we do now. Going to a dry sandbank to allow the seal to return in peace and at the same time offer the public an unforgettable experience.   

We are indeed going to use seawater to fill our bassins.

Theneighbour pass probably will not remain valid. Going forward, we will inform on the use of the various discount passes we currently have in use.   

The current facilities in Pieterburen suffer from overdue maintenance. The building is so outdated that investing in a renovation is too costly. On top of that, expanding our work - to the seal and its habitat - no longer fits in the current visitor centre. To continue our work in the future, we have been working for years to create a new place where we can do this. In the new centre, with modern facilities, we will work even harder for both the seal and our shared ecosystem.     

We zijn al jaren in gesprek met de gemeente en de omwonenden. De verhuizing komt voor het dorp niet als een verrassing.

Yes, it remains the same. Donations, legacies and bequests to the Sealcentre are reserved for the Sealcentre foundation (Stichting Zeehondencentrum Pieterburen) and will only be used for the benefit of (the operation of) the Sealcentre. This is laid down in the Articles of Association. The funds for the Sealcentre foundation and the World Heritage Centre Foundation are managed separately.  

Donations from current donors go towards the work we are carrying out at the new centre, but NOT towards its construction. The construction of the building and project costs in Lauwersoog will be financed by a loan, subsidy and the sale of the building in Pieterburen.

Onze missie en het werk dat we doen verandert niet. We zullen nog steeds elke dag hard werken aan een gezonde zeehond in een gezonde zee. Daarnaast kijken we steeds meer naar het grotere plaatje, en nemen daar nu het publiek ook in mee. Dat is voor ons ontzettend belangrijk, want ook in Lauwersoog blijven we afhankelijk van de steun van donateurs. 

Nothing changes. If desired, the legacy can be earmarked for a specific use. Donations, legacies and bequests to the Sealcentre are reserved for the Sealcentre foundation (Stichting Zeehondencentrum Pieterburen) and will only be used for the benefit of (the operation of) the Sealcentre. This is laid down in the Articles of Association. The funds for the Sealcentre foundation and the World Heritage Centre Foundation are managed separately.