The nearly bankrupt Werelderfgoedcentrum Waddenzee (WEC) in Lauwersoog, Netherlands, has received €700,000 in donations since Monday following a public plea for help. Despite this significant support, bankruptcy remains a possibility, as further funding is needed to address the centre’s substantial debts. Opened in April 2025, the WEC houses a seal rehabilitation facility and a permanent exhibition dedicated to the Wadden Sea. It has struggled to attract expected visitor numbers, while construction costs exceeded the initial budget by approximately €17.4 million, leaving a debt of around €2.8 million, alongside a €9 million loan from the Nederlandse Waterschapsbank. The municipality of Het Hogeland guarantees this loan. The WEC had hoped for financial assistance from Het Hogeland municipality and the province of Groningen, but both entities declined to contribute due to regulations concerning state aid and the overspending on construction. Unless a resolution presents itself within fourteen days, the WEC director anticipates filing for bankruptcy, potentially resulting in job losses for forty employees and endangering seal care.