Oosterend has been selected by the United Nations for the international Upgrade Programme of the Best Tourism Villages 2025. This places the Terschelling village in a select global group of villages that excel in sustainable tourism, culture and natural heritage. This was announced by the United Nations Tourism (UN Tourism).

There were more than 270 entries from 65 countries. Oosterend was selected as one of the few villages worldwide. Oosterend was chosen partly because of its exceptional cultural and natural qualities. With about 150 inhabitants, Oosterend is one of the smallest villages on Terschelling, but it plays a remarkably large role in nature conservation, sustainable tourism and cultural heritage. The village borders the Dark Sky Park De Boschplaat - one of the darkest places in Europe - and has had the official Waddengoud seal of approval since 2015. Oosterend combines silence, starry skies, circular enterprises and centuries-old community structures to create a unique destination where nature, culture and community come together.


UN Tourism's Upgrade Programme is designed for villages that exhibit great progress in sustainable tourism, but do not yet fully meet all the criteria for official recognition as a Best Tourism Village. The programme offers two main pathways:

Mentorship: personal guidance from an international expert;
Fast Track: an accelerated process to be re-assessed for the official title of Best Tourism Village.

As a result of this recognition, Oosterend automatically becomes a member of the global Best Tourism Villages Network. This network focuses on knowledge sharing and making connections between leading rural communities.

Gerben and Jolanda Bakker of Oosterend's Zeekraal were in Huzhou City in China's Zhejiang province in October to participate in the network's third annual meeting. Gerben is also Indelsman (village representative) of the village of Oosterend. On Terschelling, acting mayor Roel Cazemier is proud that Oosterend has been chosen: `This is a recognition of the unique qualities of both the village and the island of Terschelling. We ourselves experience those qualities here almost as a matter of course because we are part of it on a daily basis, but when you are then named and praised in such a way out of so many entries, it is a special award that we can take a moment to appreciate.`
The entry for the Best Tourism Villages Upgrade Programme was formally submitted by the Ministry of Economic Affairs in The Hague. The content preparation and initiative came from the village of Oosterend and the Terschellinger Ondernemersfonds (TOF), with support from the municipality of Terschelling (acting mayor Roel Cazemier), the province of Fryslân (deputy Friso Douwstra) and Staatsbosbeheer.

More information can be found on the website of UNTourism.int
Would you also like to get to know this beautiful village? Check search&book for accommodation in the Wadden Gold Village Oosterend on Terschelling.
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