Belgian Big Seashell Survey 2022

Join us on Saturday 19 March 2022 for the 5th edition of the Big Seashell Survey at the Belgian beaches. At the counting stations in each of the ten coastal municipalities, shell experts welcome you between 10 am and 4 pm and help you collect and identify your hundred beach shells. If hundreds of enthusiasts do that, we all learn a lot about these fascinating sea creatures. Experienced or not, everyone can become a marine citizen scientist for a day!

Unique this year is the comparison of the shells found on Flemish beaches with those of the Netherlands. On the same day, the natural history museum Naturalis in Leiden will be holding a big seashell survey as well, on the beaches of the coastal province South Holland – as part of the event Leiden2022 - European City of Science. Are you also curious whether we will measure big differences?

In addition, families with children can go to three provincial visitor centres (Duinpanne, Raversyde Anno 1465 and ZWIN Nature Park) for a playful introduction to shells (workshop in Dutch only). Afterwards, they will be fully prepared to collect and process a sample of shells at a counting station.

Find more information about this event on www.groteschelpenteldag.be (in Dutch only).

The Big Seashell Survey is an initiative of the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ), EOS Wetenschap magazine, the Province of West Flanders, Natuurpunt, Strandwerkgroep, Kusterfgoed and the 10 coastal municipalities. Initiative within the framework of LifeWatch Belgium.