The white island
Between Schiermonnikoog and Rottumeroog lies — by Wadden Sea tradition — a white island that becomes visible once in seven years at dead tide. Whoever sets foot may take one thing, no more. Who wishes more takes the wrong.
1 What the bank has
The white sand has shells, small stones, bleached driftwood, and — sometimes — objects washed in from shipwrecks centuries past: buttons, beads, glass shards, little tin objects. The walker chooses one. The bank «knows» by tradition what is right for the visitor — but he must choose himself. Who takes ten walks the rest of his life on banks in the Wad but never back to firm land. Who takes none walks calmly back to Schiermonnikoog.
2 The walker and the button
In 1947 mudflat walker Aaltje Smid of Lauwersoog came on the White Island at dead tide of 14 September. She chose one tin button, about 17th c. She walked back to Schiermonnikoog. The next dead tide, 1954, she did not go. 1961 not. 1968 not. She kept the button until her death in 2003 at ninety-six. She said to her daughter: «The button is of Eli Veninga, ship captain lost in 1689 at the Borkum reef. I held it in peace for his wife who never saw him again — though I never met her. Bury it with me or give it to the sea.» The daughter gave the button to the sea at Lauwersoog on the day of the funeral.
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