| Richel | |
| Local Name: | --> |
| Nickname: | --> |
| Map Size: | 250px |
| Coordinates: | 53.2972°N 5.1347°W |
| Archipelago: | (West) Frisian Islands |
| Waterbody: | Wadden Sea |
| Area M2: | or |
| Area Ha: | --> |
| Length M: | --> |
| Width M: | --> |
| Coastline M: | --> |
| Country: | Netherlands |
| Country Admin Divisions Title: | Province |
| Country Admin Divisions: | Friesland |
| Country Admin Divisions Title 1: | Municipality |
| Country Admin Divisions 1: | Vlieland |
| Population: | Uninhabited |
Richel (pronounced as /nl/; en|Ridge), or rather De Richel (The Ridge), is a permanently dry sandbank in the Wadden Sea, in the gap between the Dutch islands of Vlieland and Terschelling. It is located about 1 kilometer east of the northernmost point of Vlieland and is administered by the municipality of Vlieland. The sandbank has an average surface area of 116 hectares.[1] It is completely flooded only during extremely high tides.[2]
The island is primarily known as the most important breeding place in the Wadden Sea for grey seals.[3] More than 300 pups are born on Richel in winter. In summer seals seem to prefer areas more sheltered from human contact. The sandbank is also important as a breeding and feeding area for ringed plovers, Kentish plovers, little terns and other bird species.
Richel is uninhabited and virtually barren. It is too low to support any permanent vegetation.[4] The sandbank is only able to support some temporary colonisation by the grass species sand couch (Elytrigia juncea).
The ferry between Harlingen and Vlieland passes by Richel, making a detour around the sandbank. During low tide, it is possible to walk to the sandbank from Vlieland (see mudflat hiking) although Richel is off-limits to humans due to its importance as a nature area. Boat trips from Vlieland used to be organised daily during the summer tourist season to observe the seal population on Richel.