A case for granting legal personality to the Dutch part of the Wadden Sea.

This article proposes that the Dutch Wadden Sea, a tidal wetland, can be protected by recognizing that it can own itself, in keeping with the emerging international trend of granting rights and legal personality to important ecosystems. Under Dutch law, legal personality could be granted to the Wadden Sea in the form of a 'natureship' (natuurschap), a legal form that perfectly fits into the Dutch legal system. The legal objective of the Wadden Sea Natureship could be to focus on maintaining the ecosystem in a healthy condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]