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History and background
Tens of thousands of years ago, after a long period of glacial conditions, the earths climate changed. The melting of enormous glacial masses caused the level of the sea to rise, separating England from Europe’s mainland. Currents carried huge amounts of sand to create the long sand banks off what is now the Dutch coast. Behind this wall of sand was formed a marshy area, which was regularly flooded by the sea. A violent storm in 1296 caused the waters of the sea to overrun the river estuaries, resulting in the formation of such areas as the Wadden islands.
From excavations we have learned that the area round the present-day Wadden islands was inhabited as early as the 900s. The first written records mention people dwelling there from the 13th century on.
At first the Terschellingers lived on what the land and sea provided. Later the development of the Hanseatic towns brought more prosperity on the island as well, with Terschelling soon gaining a strategic position in the routes of the trade centres around the Zuiderzee which lead to the open seas. But this strategic location resulted in regular battles, battles which lead to such events as the great fire of 1666 at which time all of West-Terschelling went up in flames, with only the lighthouse Brandaris remaining.
Bit by bit the people turned to whaling as an occupation. This became an important source of income for them. After centuries of relative prosperity based upon whaling and sea commerce, in the 19th century the rerouting of the shipping trade brought about a change. The islanders were forced to make their living from farming and fishing. Up to the second World War, Terschelling comprised part of the province of North Holland. In 1942 it was classified part of Friesland, remaining so after the occupation. As the beginning of the 20th century, tourism made a hesitant start in Terschelling. After the 2nd World War the tourist industry expanded, and it became Terschelling’s most significant source of income.