Seal Tour and Naval Base Den Helder
with the Anna
Spotting seals on the mudflats with an additional visit to the naval base in Den Helder
Step aboard the Anna and experience an unforgettable adventure on the water. During this trip, you’ll not only sail past sandbanks full of seals, but also enjoy a unique view of the naval base in Den Helder. Captain Frido, born and raised on Texel, shares his knowledge and stories about the Wadden Sea and island life along the way.
Spotting seals on the mudflats
The seal tour starts in the harbour of Oudeschild on Texel. Captain Frido, a true Texel fisherman, sails the Anna towards the sandbanks where the seals gather. Here you get the chance to admire both common and grey seals up close, right in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Wadden Sea. Frido shares his knowledge and anecdotes about life on and around the water, making the tour educational and fun for all ages.
View the naval base in Den Helder
An exclusive part of this trip is the unique view of the naval base in Den Helder. While you sit comfortably on board, you’ll see navy ships, patrol boats, offshore vessels and even submarines from the water. The naval base is normally closed to the public, but with the Anna you get a special behind-the-scenes look at the Dutch navy. This combination of seals and naval base can only be found on this tour with Captain Frido.
F.A.Q.
frequently asked questions:
We sail with the Anna *daily to the seals at the following times:
10:30 – 12:00
12:30 – 14:00
14:30 – 16:00
* Departure only with sufficient passengers and favorable weather conditions.
The Anna can accommodate 25 people.
Absolutely, our boat tour is a great experience for children. Children of all ages are welcome to join. Appropriate life jackets are available on board.
We welcome dogs on board at no extra cost, as long as they behave friendly. This means that your faithful companion can board without any hassle and behave politely towards fellow passengers and any other dogs. If your dog weighs within the limit of 20 kg, we are ready to assist with boarding.
At the moment, whether a wheelchair can come on board depends on the tide. We are working on a solution, but currently cannot guarantee accessibility.
Yes, the Anna has a toilet on board, so you can use the restroom if needed.
We need 6 people to depart.
Yes, this is possible if we also deploy our other boat. Contact us for the options.
With favorable conditions, we sail at a maximum speed of 40 kilometers per hour.
For those who want to know more about seals, you can read our article on seal facts and information.
Explore Oudeschild before or after your trip. There is plenty to do in and around the harbor. Also, check out the best activities on the island and the main sights of Texel.
via Google Reviews
Great trip, despite the cloudy weather it was an amazing experience, the number of seals nowadays is impressive, very suitable for taking photos, very pleasant captain, lots of explanations.
via Google Reviews
We have been going regularly for many years with great pleasure. Beautiful trip to the Razende Bol, guaranteed seals, and very pleasant people. Highly recommended!
via Google Reviews
Very nice trip. Friendly staff and captain. They also share interesting information. The seals are easy to see and swim around the boat. Definitely worth experiencing!
via Google Reviews
Small-scale boat trip max 12 people. It's more expensive than the large boats with 200 people. The skipper's explanation about the seals is perfect. With the small boat, you can get closer to the sandbank, so a better view of the animals.
via Google Reviews
Had a great seal tour. Very nice skipper with an interesting story and saw many seals. Small boat so you get really close to the seals. There's also a super nice surprise at the end with a happy ending 🙂
via Google Reviews
Today we went on the seal safari with Het Sop. It was amazing. We were able to see the seals up close without disturbing them. I had a great time taking pictures of them. It was such a joy. Highly recommended, and we will definitely go again.