Interactive

The spotting map.

Every known seal location in the Netherlands on one interactive map. Filter by species, click a marker for season and access. Combine the map with a local tide table to plan your visit around low tide.

Why a map helps

Seeing seals is largely a matter of the right place at the right time. A map makes the first part concrete: you can see at a glance which locations are near you, which species to expect there, and how to reach a spot. For the time, you need a tide table — read about that at reading tides.

The map below holds the main publicly accessible spotting points in the Waddenzee and the Delta, plus a few nurseries and the rehabilitation centre A Seal in Stellendam. Not every haul-out is listed — some are deliberately kept off-map to prevent disturbance.

Legend

Mostly common seal (Phoca vitulina)
Mostly grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) or mixed population

Interactive map

Every location on one map

Use the filters to switch between all locations, mostly common seal, or mostly grey / mixed.

Mostly common seal Mostly grey seal / mixed

List

Locations — every spot in detail

Per location: name, coordinates, species, best season and how to get there.

How to use this map

Three steps:

Pick a location you can reach — ideally one where you'll be on site around low tide on the day of your visit.
Find the low-tide time in a local tide table (see tides).
Plan to arrive about an hour before low and stay until an hour after low. Binoculars in hand.

Note: this dataset is extensive but not exhaustive. Not every haul-out is shared, and local conditions can change. Always follow Rijkswaterstaat and Staatsbosbeheer signs on site; during pup season parts of de Richel, the Engelsmanplaat and some Oosterschelde sandbars are closed seasonally.