A beautiful sunset at the lookout De Kalkman on Engelsmanplaat in the province of Friesland by Marga Vroom

About "A beautiful sunset at the lookout De Kalkman on Engelsmanplaat in the province of Friesland"

by Marga Vroom

About the artwork

The Engelmanplaat is a vast, uninhabited sandbar in the eastern part of the Dutch Wadden Sea, located between the Wadden Islands of Ameland (to the west) and Schiermonnikoog (to the east) in the province of Friesland. The plate is part of the unique and dynamic tidal area known as the Wadden area, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2009. Engelmanplaat lies in the transition area between two important channels: the Zoutkamperlaag and the Westgat. At low tide, the plate largely comes dry and is then visible as a vast sandy plain. At high tide, it is (partially) inundated by the sea. The Engelman Plate is constantly changing under the influence of wind, tides and currents. As a result, its shape, size and location change gradually over the years. These dynamics are typical of the Wadden area as a whole. The name "Engelmanplaat" is derived from Mr Engelman, a superintendent of Rijkswaterstaat who was involved in taking hydrographic measurements in this part of the Wadden Sea in the second half of the 19th century. On the Engelsman plate, there is a bird watcher's house and observation post called De Kalkman. The structure serves as accommodation for bird watchers who monitor bird resting areas during the breeding season and sometimes receive visitors. Engelmanplaat plays an important role as a resting and foraging area for numerous animal species. Shorebirds in particular use the plate as a stopover during their migrations, looking for food in the mud flats. In addition, Engelmanplaat is an important resting place for seals. The plate lies within the Natura 2000 area of the Wadden Sea. I took the photo one evening with a photo tour.