Why are we moving?

Pieterburen is a wonderful place. Were we have been allowed to develop into a outstanding seal hospital. Who would have thought 50 years ago that we would put this small village in Groningen on the map like this? We look at our history and development with great pride. But we also have to be realistic. Our work can unfortunately not continue in Pieterburen in a future-oriented way. The current facilities suffer from overdue maintenance. The building is so outdated that refurbishing it is too costly.

After years of intensive use, our current location is in need of renovation. The centre suffers from overdue maintenance and is not sustainable. A complete renovation would be too costly for a future-proof seal sanctuary.

The seal does not stand on its own. Its health and population depend on the health of the Wadden Sea. We therefore find it important to tell not only about the seal, but also about its habitat. We believe that a healthy seal is the measure of a healthy Wadden Sea.

And us too, as humans, are linked to the health of the sea. We build dykes, we sail ships and we create pollution. This is how we influence each other.

On top of that, broadening our work - to the seal and its habitat - no longer fits in the current visitor centre. There is so much to tell, but we don't have the space for it. On top of that, we don't just want to tell stories, we also want to involve you in everything we do. And that is impossible in our current building. It makes the construction of a new building necessary. And how nice is it, that it will be at the junction of the Wadden Sea and people, in the port of Lauwersoog?

Therefore, the construction of a new facility is necessary. Of course, the best place to do that is right there: right next to the Wadden Sea. 

Over the past few years, we have been able to receive a huge amount of support, in so many different ways. By visiting and telling your friends again, adopting your favourite seal, following us online or any of the many other ways.

We are very grateful for that, because we cannot do our work without you. And the same goes for our work in the WEC.

We have secured funding for the building with thanks to many parties. But our day-to-day work, as here, continues.

We therefore hope that you are as excited about our future as we are, and that you will continue to support us, also in Lauwersoog. By stopping by when we open, becoming a donor or by subscribing to our Newsletter .