Come to Rescue 'The Rolling Sheep'

Hans Faber
Nov 14, 2021
13 min read

Updated: Sep 27

Hiking demands careful preparation, especially when it comes to personal safety. What is in your First Aid Kit? Do you have basic first aid skills to handle an accident? Unless you plan a solitary walk across the Wadden Sea mudflats, help is never far away on the Frisia Coast Trail. Provided you have a swim certificate and can spot the occasional wolf in sheep’s clothing, most health risks are limited to blisters, twisted ankles, or an upset stomach from consuming too much dairy products. However, some 'trail companions' may regularly require your rescue skills: rolled-over sheep. This blog post offers clear instructions on how to help them—and yes, you will encounter sheep in overwhelming numbers along this trail. Try not to count them; that could be another safety hazard.

Before diving into instructions for rescuing rolled-over sheep, it is worth knowing a bit about these animals you will encounter along the path. You owe them far more respect—and attention—than you might realize at first glance.

Sheep have played a pivotal role in human civilization. Around the world, there are roughly a thousand distinct breeds. In the wider North Sea region, sheep husbandry stretches back to the earliest times—centuries, perhaps even millennia, before the Romans arrived. These animals thrive on the salty fringes of the southern North Sea coast, exactly where the Frisia Coast Trail winds its way. Local coastal breeds are remarkably resilient, impervious to the harsh weather of the flat, barren lands. Heavy rain, howling winds, and freezing cold are mere illusions to them. North Sea sheep can endure it all for weeks on end. Indeed, it is a well-kept secret: sheep are extra-terrestrial. Just look at their eyes. It is their peepers that give them away.

Sheep prosper along the wider North Sea coast. The region’s damp climate keeps the grass pastures lush and long, perfect for their constant grazing. A sheep munches for about eight hours a day, then finds a spot to lie down and stoically chew its cud—sometimes up to fifty times. If sheep ever dreamed of going to college or launching a startup business, they simply would not have the time.

In the past, the vast pastures required to feed sheep meant they always had to be literally sulla strada (‘on the road’), moving from one grazing area to another. This was the job of shepherds and their trusty dogs. The coastal stretch from the region of Flanders to that of Jutland offered an endless supply of grass-covered dykes, polders (‘embanked land’), and tidal marshes. So-called schaapsdriften (‘sheep droves’) were the dykes and roadsides along which flocks grazed. Shepherds, or drovers, could make a living from the Early Middle Ages up until roughly the eighteenth century, with a few traditional shepherds still active in the area of 't Zwin in Flanders until shortly after the Second World War.

Today, dykes and roads are partitioned with fences and cattle grids, so sheep are boxed from section to section. Nevertheless, you can still encounter shepherds on the dykes with their border collies; see movies below. in the province of Noord Holland and the region of Butjadingen. And yes—you will be climbing over many of those dyke fences while hiking the trail!

Various dogs have been used to herd sheep along the North Sea coast. These include the Vlaamse koehond or Bouvier des Flandres—a cross between the Irish Wolfhound, the Belgian Mastiff, and a variety of the Belgian Shepherd called the Laekense herder—as well as the Belgische herder (Belgian Sheepdog), the Hollandse herder (Dutch Shepherd), the Duitse herder (German Shepherd), and the Schapendoes (Dutch Sheepdog), more common inland. And of course, the famous Border Collie can also be spotted here. Luckily, dogs not as fierce as the ones you will encounter when hiking the Lycian Way in Turkey, namely the Kangal.

Sheep, a cornerstone of power in the Middle Ages — The Speaker of the House of Lords in London still sits on a red wool-filled cushion known as the Woolsack, which contains samples of wool from across the kingdom—a lasting testament to the vital importance of wool for Britain. Between the twelfth and fifteenth centuries, enormous fortunes were made from wool production, which by the end of the twelfth century had become the country’s primary source of wealth (Chamson 2014). Bishop Joseph Hall (1574–1656) famously described England’s three miracles as "ecclesia, foemina, lana"—churches, women, and wool. In that light, it is no exaggeration to say that Great Britain was, quite literally, built on wool.

The statesman shears the sheep; the politician skins them (Austin O’Malley, 1858-1932)

The demand for British wool was driven largely by the region of Flanders, where it was needed to produce the renowned Flemish broadcloth. From around 1100, Flanders began importing wool from England, as even their already substantial domestic production could no longer meet demand. This gave rise to a close economic interdependence between the two regions, known as the 'Flemish Connection': England exported wool to Flanders, while Flanders sent finished broadcloth back to England.

Even before the year 1000, the counts of Flanders were investing in sheep husbandry. Sheep grazed on the tidal marshlands of Flanders and West Frisia—notably the province of Zeeland—from the very beginning of the Early Middle Ages. As embankments reclaimed more land from the sea, additional pastures became available for sheep farming, producing ever more wool. This wool—and the broadcloth made from it—became a major source of income for the Flemish counts, enabling them to maintain militias or hire armies (De Maesschalck 2012). Wool production also underpinned the rise of Flemish cities such as Ieper, Ghent, and especially Bruges, along with its network of port towns in the area of ’t Zwin, known as Sincfala.

Before the region of Flanders built its power on wool during the High Middle Ages, the Frisians did during the Early Middle Ages. The Frisians produced the valued broadcloth known as pallia Fresonica ('Frisian cloth'). A textile valued by Charlemagne (747-814) himself. But who knows, the production of woollen ship sails also was part of the exports from Frisia. See our blog post Haute Couture From the Salt Marshes.

The versatility of sheep has made them invaluable throughout human history. They provide meat, milk, leather, lanolin, and wool. Along the coasts of Flanders, the Netherlands, Germany, and Denmark, these fleecy animals serve yet another purpose: maintaining dykes and cultivating tidal marshlands. Grazing flocks create a sturdy grass cover, while their constant trampling compacts the surface of dykes and salt marshes, making them solid and resilient. In Germany, this practice even has a charming name: Trippelwalze (Siegmüller 2022) for their assistance in reinforcing the embankments, and the sheep themselves are affectionately called Deichschwein ('dyke hog').

Historically, the humid North Sea region has been ideal—and renowned—for wool production. Consider the pallia Fresonica ('Frisian cloth') of the Early Middle Ages, the Flemish laken ('broadcloth') of the High Middle Ages, and the English and Scottish tweed that continues to be made today. For a deeper dive into the centuries-long wool tradition of the region, see our blog post Haute Couture From the Salt Marshes.

Of course, with the introduction of cotton and later cheap synthetic fibers, along with mechanical lawn mowers—and the inconvenient or sorry fact that mutton never became a staple in the Dutch, Flemish, or German diet—sheep gradually lost their prominent place in society. Across the English Channel, however, lamb remains beloved. This is unfortunate for the Continentals, because lamb raised in salty coastal pastures is prized for its flavour—Salzlamm, or 'salty lamb.' Its cheese is equally esteemed: in Germany, it goes by the name Frische Friese ('fresh Frisian'). And just to be clear, with Frische Friese, think dairy—not humanoids. On the Wadden Sea island of Texel, top-quality sheep cheese is also produced—Echte Texelse.

Although the importance of sheep has declined over time, they remain a familiar and frequent sight along the seemingly endless river and sea dykes of the trail. Flanders is home to around 150,000 sheep—a relatively small number by European standards. The Netherlands has about 550,000, Denmark roughly 140,000, and Germany approximately 2.5 million. In Germany’s Nordfriesland district alone, there are around 150,000 sheep, nearly matching the number of human inhabitants. Altogether, with some 3.4 million sheep across the four countries the Frisia Coast Trail crosses, hikers are sure to encounter these woolly companions for quite some time.

We hope you did not fall asleep while we were counting sheep above.

The numerous sheep varieties can be grouped into several distinct categories.

coast or interior

A first distinction can be made based on where the beasts dwell. In north-western Europe, this is the difference between grassland sheep on the one hand, and heather or moorland sheep on the other.

Grassland sheep are relevant when walking the trail and are known in the Dutch language as kustweide- en polderschapen (‘coastal-meadow and polder sheep’). Varieties belonging to the coastal-meadow sheep include the Flandrine or the Vlaming from Flanders, the Vlaams Kuddeschaap ('Flemish flock-sheep') from the ancient area of Waasland in Flanders too, the Fries-Zeeuwse melkschaap (‘Frisian-Zeelandic milk sheep’) from the provinces of Zeeland and Friesland, and the Ostfriesisches Milchschaf (‘East-Frisian milk sheep’) from the region of Ostfriesland. The province of Groningen had its own breed too, but it is now extinct. All these varieties are specialized in milk yield and produce a very fat and nutritious milk. The Ostfriesisches Milchschaf is considered the world's highest-producing dairy sheep.

Heather and moor sheep varieties often are on the verge of extinction because their habitats are too. The Drents Heideschaap or Drent Heath sheep is such a breed, and also said to be the oldest surviving breed of sheep in Europe. It was introduced about 6, 000 years ago (!) on the more sandy soils of the province of Drenthe in the northeast of the Netherlands.

meat, milk, leather, or wool

A second distinction can be made based on its primary economic function, namely, the production of meat, milk, leather, lanolin, or wool. Sheep which you will stumble upon and slalom through on the trail are mainly meat-type varieties. In other words, the ewes are used as dams for slaughter lambs. It can be the Texelaar, also named the Texel (origin Wadden Sea island of Texel); the Swifter (cross between the Flandrine and the Texel, origin area of Swifterband); the Flevolander (origin province of Flevoland); the Noordhollander (cross between the Texel and the Finnsheep, origin province of Noord Holland); and the Weißköpfiges Fleischschafe (cross between many varieties, including the Texel, origin north-west of Germany). The Texel is the dominant terminal-sire breed of Europe and has excellent muscle development.

All these meat sheep varieties are of the sturdy type and can stand year-round the windy, cold, and wet weather along the North Sea coast. If you fancy high quality sheep meat, try the Saeftinger breed, a sheep from the salt marshes of (Zeelandic) Flanders.

Lanolin is sheep’s natural grease. No need to stick your tongue out—lanolin is actually a marvellous, almost otherworldly substance. English draper and outfitter Thomas Burberry (1835–1926) developed woollen fabrics for outdoor coats, military gear, and explorer clothing. When wool is treated with lanolin, it becomes warm, lightweight, and—most importantly—waterproof. These qualities were invaluable for trench soldiers, and they remain perfect for happy hikers today. Beyond its economic importance, lanolin also softens and disinfects the skin—a property valued as far back as the ancient world. Even today, it is a key ingredient in a wide range of cosmetics.

If you have ever wondered why most sheep are white, it is because white wool is much easier to dye than black or brown. The genes for black or brown coats are recessive, which is why occasional black sheep still appear. Historically, black sheep were—and in terms of wool production, still are—considered a financial loss, giving rise to the expression 'being a black sheep' (Coulthard 2020). White wool has been preferred since ancient times, as illustrated in the Book of Genesis (30:25–43), which describes how speckled and spotted animals were selected and how the strength and productivity of sheep were stimulated by placing peeled sticks from various trees in their troughs.

moulting or shearing

A third distinction can be made based on whether sheep lose their fleece by themselves every season or whether it needs to be sheared off. Be the good shepherd and make sure none strays from the flock and cannot be sheared. You do not want Australian Baaracks and New Zealand Shreks everywhere wandering around on dykes with a 35-kilogram fleece, now do you? Moult sheep are gaining popularity in breeding programs these days since wool yields not much money anymore, and shearing the animals, which is laborious, becomes too costly. The costs of shearing exceed already the value of the fleece. That is even the case with merino sheep.

In the second half of the eighteenth century, the quality of wool from Friesland’s sheep began to decline. According to none other than wool comber, astronomer, and builder of the world-famous orrery in Franeker (a UNESCO World Heritage site), Eise Eisinga (1744–1828), this drop in quality was due to the introduction of inferior sheep breeds. The new breed was indeed hardier and better able to withstand harsh weather, but it no longer produced the rich, greasy wool that had been so valuable. This decline negatively impacted the local wool trade, much to Eisinga’s frustration (Dijkstra 2021).

As hikers, we should give merino sheep a special mention. These breeds produce exceptionally fine, high-quality wool. Hiking shirts made from merino are excellent—they keep you warm when it is cold, cool when it is hot, and resist unpleasant odours for several days. For a fun fact: the world record for shearing merino sheep in eight hours stands at 497 animals—that is nearly 1,700 kilograms of fleece!

Going to the Sheep Rescue

With so many sheep along the trail, resist the urge to start counting them—you will only end up drowsy and making little headway on your hike. What you should be prepared for, however, is the occasional sight of a sheep lying helplessly on its back. In Dutch, such an animal is called a verwenteld schaap, literally a 'revolved sheep.' Its thin legs stick awkwardly into the air, and this happens most often in the first few months of the year, when ewes are heavy with pregnancy.

The trouble is that sheep cannot right themselves once they have rolled onto their backs. Most breeds you will encounter are barrel-shaped—especially in winter, when their fleece is at its thickest and the ewes are carrying unborn lambs. Once a sheep is stuck in this position, its weight presses down on the organs (and on the lambs, if any), making it all but impossible for the animal to get back on its feet without help.

But the danger does not end there. Being stuck on its back is not just uncomfortable—it is life-threatening and highly stressful for a sheep. In some cases, the animal may die within an hour. The reason is simple: once overturned, the connection between its stomach and intestines is blocked. Meanwhile, the stomach keeps producing gas that cannot escape, causing it to swell. As pressure builds, the lungs are compressed, and the sheep may eventually suffocate. On top of that, a sheep in this position can no longer urinate, which quickly becomes critical. It can still poop, though—an odd detail, but true nonetheless.

So, how to handle the situation?

Do not be afraid for the animal.
Stop making photo's, movies and selfies.
Do not rush toward the animal. Approach slowly — after all, you might be mistaken. Sometimes a sheep is perfectly fine and simply lying on its back, gazing at the sky after indulging in too much grass. A gentle way to check is to ask, “Is everything okay?” If the sheep answers with a bleat, you can safely take that as a “no.”
Check the amount of droppings beside the sheep—it is a useful clue to how long the animal has been lying on its back. If you see a lot of fresh, shiny pellets, do not simply shove the sheep onto its side in an attempt to get it back on its feet. That kind of sudden movement can cause serious internal damage. Instead, the sheep must be turned and lifted gradually, giving its body time to adjust.
Position yourself at the sheep’s head. Place your hands around its neck, shoulders, or just under the forelegs, and lift its head and chest until the animal is sitting upright—almost as if it were seated on a chair. Hold it in this position for at least two minutes. This allows the organs to settle back into place, the blood circulation to recover, and the lungs to breathe normally again. While you wait, you can stroke its cheeks—sheep enjoy that, even in a moment as precarious and embarrassing as this.
Now, give the sheep a gentle kiss on the head for encouragement, then nudge it forward onto its feet.
Stay with the sheep for a little while to make sure it recovers. At first, it may wobble and zigzag, perhaps even topple over again. Your presence is important not only to see that it regains strength, but also to prevent it from staggering into a ditch, where it could risk drowning. And the Frisia Coast Trail has more ditches and canals than the Sahara has grains of sand.
Soon after, the sheep begins to urinate — quite a lot. With that taken care of, you can proudly resume your hike along the Frisia Coast Trail, keeping an eye out for any other sheep in need of rescue. For a moment, you might even feel like a hero straight out of Daktari.

Instruction developed by Dierenbescherming, the Netherlands

If you browse the web, you will notice that in Germany, the recommended technique for helping a rolled-over sheep is to push it on its flank, a method known as Schafe schubsen ('sheep pushing'). In the Netherlands, however, the preferred approach is the sitting-upright method, which we also consider the safer option.

If you still wish to use the less time-consuming schubsen method, take care to check whether the sheep has been lying on its back for a long time—one way to do this is by observing the amount of fresh, shiny droppings nearby. If the animal has been overturned for an extended period, do not attempt to push it but use the sit upright method as described.

If nothing seems to work, or the sheep is still in need of help, try contacting one of the following organizations: for Germany, the Notrufzentrale Tierschutz emergency number: 0049 800 111 1515 (hopefully dialing all those digits is not fatal for the animal); for the Netherlands, the Dierenbescherming emergency number: 144; and for Flanders (Belgium), the Inspectiedienst Dierenwelzijn emergency number: 1700—or, if all else fails, consult the Yellow Pages (advice straight from the Flanders government; apologies!).

Check also this movie to see how it is done in real life.

Note 1 — Sheep have to face additional dangers these last years, namely the return of the wolf at the southern coast of the North Sea. For more on this threat, consult our blog post Who’s Afraid of Voracious Woolf?—the Dread Beast is Back.

Note 2 — As explained at the beginning of this blog post, help is never far away along the Frisia Coast Trail. However, the other skill you need to practice, is how to communicate with the sturdy locals, if you want to receive any help at all after an injury. Study our blog post Grassland Conversation. Where Less Is More to learn how to interact with these silent types.

Note 3 — For more blog posts about animals of the Frisia Coast Trail area, tap the tag 'animals'.