Witje, a 4-month-old gray seal, glides effortlessly through his new habitat, occasionally stopping to look through a viewing window at onlookers. Orphaned and brought in with a swollen flipper and eye injury, he now lives at the newly opened World Heritage Center (WEC) in Lauwersoog, a seal rescue and rehabilitation facility in northern Netherlands.

The WEC replaces the long-established Pieterburen Seal Center, which opened in 1971. The new facility, built at a cost of over €40 million (around $45 million), is better equipped and located closer to the Wadden Sea — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — which provides a more natural environment for the seals.

Curator Sander van Dijk says the center treats around 200 seals each year, many of them orphaned pups or animals injured by human activity, such as entanglement in fishing nets or boat collisions. “We’ve seen a steady increase in seals caught in marine debris over the past 15 years,” he noted.

Witje now swims in seawater, rather than tap water, to better mimic his natural habitat and aid healing, as saltwater helps wounds close more quickly. The WEC can care for about 70 seals at once and includes 12 intensive-care units for severely injured animals. These specialized enclosures limit swimming to help seals rest and reduce the risk of infection through frequent cleaning.

The facility is not just a rescue center — it also serves as an educational hub. Visitors can learn about the Wadden Sea, the world’s largest uninterrupted tidal flat system, which spans the coastlines of the Netherlands, Germany, and Denmark.

Currently home to 10 seals, the WEC offers panoramic views of the sea. Staff hope Witje will soon be healthy enough to return to the wild.