The German East Frisian Islands are barrier islands which shield the mudflat region of the Wadden Sea from the North Sea. They protect the coastline from severe storm damage and comprise several habitats that are refuges for wildlife. Each island differs from the others – not only with respect to its identity, culture and traditions, but also its natural conditions. Discover these continually changing islands as the powerful forces of winds, currents, waves, storms and tides reshape them.
Located between the Dollart inlet and Jadebusen bay, the East Frisian Coast is a picturesque countryside with fertile green marshes, blossoming parkland, vast moors, and several estuaries and bays. Water is the characteristic element in East Frisia, so it is little wonder that the whole area is home to an extraordinary number of wild plants and animals, just waiting to be discovered.
Surrounded by water on three sides, the Wesermarsch region is a fascinating place to visit. With Jade bay to the west, the North Sea to the north, and the Weser estuary to the east, it is one of the largest grassland areas and most important wetlands in Germany. It is here that you will also find the world's only bog that is situated in front of the dike. Due to its location, the bog floats on the sea water during storm surges.
Sand banks, mudflats and sea as far as the eye can see, as well as seals and enormous flocks of migrating birds. Hard to believe that all of this is also part of the city state of Hamburg. Explore the smallest German National Park around the island of Neuwerk, where the flag of Hamburg has flown there for over 700 years.
Discover the only brackish water bay in Lower Saxony with its unique flora and fauna. Here you can discover a wide variety of habitats such as salt marshes, brackish reed beds and grassland areas that provide an important habitat for birds. Or look beyond the dike shortly before a flood and see the thousands of geese that gather at the Wadden-side edge of the foreland – a truly impressive spectacle.
Follow the sandy cliffs, known as ‘geest cliffs’, along Jade Bay and around Cuxhaven-Sahlenburg. These geest cliffs are exceptional in the Wadden Sea Region – they are the remnants of the last glacial period and show gradual transitions. Or take a trip to the Ostplate Spiekeroog and study the natural development and dynamics of the island.
Imagine a place where sand, sea and salty breezes combine with a dash of history – and that’s what you can expect to discover in this part of the Wadden Sea World Heritage.
In the region between Emden and Otterndorf black pied 'Eulalias', as the cattle here are called, graze peacefully on vast marshlands. Romantic fishing villages, harbour towns and beaches nestled behind the dike define this part of the coast. The picturesque coastal strip also serves as the gateway to the Lower Saxon and Hamburg Wadden Sea National Park.
Situated just three to ten kilometres off the coast are the seven East Frisian Islands lined up like pearls on a string, forming a natural coastal protection. Escape to this idyllic paradise and experience these unique islands, each with their own distinct identity and tradition.
Or visit the island Neuwerk just outside of Cuxhaven, with its rich history. The island even used to serve as a hideout for pirates. The sand flats and mudflats as well as the salt marshes around Neuwerk are intact natural landscapes of the Hamburg Wadden Sea World Heritage Site.
You will discover villages built on artificial mounds, houses enclosed by dikes and a rich Frisian culture. Spend quality time in quaint museums, teahouses and ancient castles – evidence of an unrivalled cultural diversity that keeps Frisian culture and traditions alive.