My mom does not even like oysters, yet there we were, tiptoeing out the door early Sunday morning, coffee in hand, heading toward the Wadden Sea. The sun was barely up, and the roads were still quiet, the kind of stillness you only get in rural Denmark. I had talked her into joining an oyster safari, and to my surprise, she said yes. Maybe it was the promise of fresh air, maybe it was the spirit of adventure, or maybe she just wanted a day out with me. I will take it.
Vadehavet, or the Wadden Sea, sits along the southwest coast of Denmark. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in the country. Long, flat, wind swept, and endlessly wide, it is a place where the sky feels bigger than usual and the tide rules everything. Twice a day, the sea pulls back and reveals a landscape that looks almost lunar, with mudflats, sandbanks, and oyster reefs appearing out of nowhere.
We were supposed to meet our guide, Jan, at one location, but the tide had other plans. The meeting point changed last minute because the low tide was more favorable somewhere else. At Vadehavet, the tide decides where the oysters will be, and we follow along like obedient students.
Before we set out, Jan told us a bit about the history of this part of the coast. Oysters have been harvested here for centuries, but the ones we find today are not the native Danish species. The oysters that dominate Vadehavet now are Pacific oysters, introduced to Europe decades ago through aquaculture. They eventually spread and settled in places like the Wadden Sea, where they thrive in the calm, shallow waters. They are considered invasive but also delicious, so the safaris serve a double purpose. You help control the population and you get to eat and pick all the oysters you want.
We walked along the beach until Jan stopped and pointed out at the water. Dark patches had appeared on the horizon, the oyster reefs. They rise above the waterline when the tide is low, and that morning, the timing was perfect. The reefs were roughly 700 feet out. They looked close, but the muddy sand between us and the oysters had other ideas.
Walking out there felt like a slow motion workout. Each step made a sucking sound, and our boots kept getting stuck. The trick, according to Jan, is to take tiny fast steps. Never pause. If you stop too long, the mud takes it as an invitation. Even though there is firmer ground about eight inches below, you do not want to sink that deep as your boots will get stuck.
By the time we reached the reef, the group spread out, everyone focused on their own treasure hunt. Filling the buckets was easy enough as there were oysters everywhere, big ones, small ones, clumps of them growing on top of mussels. Though many of them covered in thick layers of mud, so cleaning and shucking them out there was a challenge.
We took a few breaks along the way, and Jan would gather us for a quick shucking lesson. He had brought Danish snaps (aquavit) and hot sauce for the oysters and encouraged everybody to try. The oysters were briny and fresh, and if you could overlook the persistent mud situation, they were delicious.
I filled two buckets and brought them home. My mom ended up picking quite a few too, which was impressive, considering she had no intention of eating any of them. It was such a beautiful experience. The wide open sky, the sound of birds in the distance, and the surreal sight of people wandering around on oyster reefs in the middle of what normally is the sea. I cannot wait to show you what I cooked with the oysters I brought back.
Thinking About Going on an Oyster Safari? Here’s What to Know
We joined Marskture, a local tour operator that offers oyster safaris and other nature excursions in the area. They also run a guesthouse.
You can rent rubber boots and buy gloves if you did not bring your own. Do not go without gloves. Oyster shells are sharp and will cut you quickly. Oyster knives are available to borrow for free.
Dress warmly. It can be windy and rainy, and even on a calm day, there’s a big risk you will get wet. Bring a full set of dry clothes. Both my mom and I managed to slip and fall in the shallow water, so having something dry to change into would have been nice.
Bring buckets if you have them. Marskture has a few extras, but not enough for everyone.
If you are planning a trip to the Wadden Sea area, Marskture’s Motel is a really charming place to stay. The old tobacco drying house in Højer has been turned into a small, family friendly bed & breakfast with eight rooms, all with a private bathroom. Marskture's Motel is run by the same family that runs the Marskture excursions, and some of their oyster tours end here with a cozy oyster barbecue. If you want a comfortable and practical base close to the Wadden Sea, this is a really good pick.
