Port Lauwersoog is primarily a fishing port. The port was created when the Lauwersmeer was closed in 1969. The former working island of Rijkswaterstaat was spontaneously used by the fishery as a home port, close to the fishing grounds. There is also limited recreation and industry in the port, but the majority of activities arise from or are related to fishing.
Both the fishing industry and the port itself are under pressure. More and more fishing grounds are being closed for wind farms. Especially where the bottom is less deep and fishing has been going on for hundreds of years, fishing grounds are increasingly closed off for the construction of wind farms. Port of Lauwersoog is a staunch supporter of the sustainable generation of energy, but also sees that fishing grounds are declining sharply. The port itself is under pressure because ports of this size are hardly able to survive without government support. The Port of Lauwersoog is certainly in favor of wind farms, but with the maintenance of sufficient fishing grounds and attention to the “right of way” or “customary law” of fishing.
Port Lauwersoog is situated in a unique location, between the UNESCO World Heritage Wadden Sea and Lauwersmeer National Park.