Wadden Sea centre receives €1.1m in donations as it faces financial crisis

The Wadden Sea World Heritage Centre (WEC) in Pieterburen has received €1.1 million in donations as it tries to address a financial shortfall, its head of education, Sander van Dijk, said on Friday. The centre has said it needs at least €2.8 million to survive.

The donations came through crowdfunding and other contributions, according to a report by Nieuws.nl, which carried an ANP news agency story. The centre’s funding needs became public on Monday.

Opened in a new building at the harbour in Lauwersoog about 18 months ago, the WEC has faced deficits linked to higher construction costs and fewer visitors than expected, the report said.

Director Bas Wemmenhove told Dagblad van het Noorden on Friday that the donations were a major show of support, not only financially. He said it was too early to know whether the centre could secure a positive outcome, but that the contributions helped provide a sense of perspective. [1]