There is a beach truck on the island of Vlieland with a poem written on the tire tread. Je voeten means your feet. The full sentence: Wat ik zocht vloeit hier langs je voeten, stroomt door je handen, raakt aan je wang en verovert voor altijd je hart. This loosely translates into: Here, what I was looking for runs about your feet, flows through your hands, touches your cheek and forever captures your heart.

On Vlieland I was shown around by forester Anke. Her backyard is a depository for all kinds of beach combing treasures, collected by her husband. Anke told me that there is no lumber store on the island. ‘When we need wood, we comb the beach.’ My favorite moments: when I spotted a snow owl and when Anke sang me an island song.

Vlieland is tiny and charming. It could be my number one Dutch island…