Amrum is one of the North Frisian Islands in the Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park (Schleswig-Holsteinisches Wattenmeer) without itself belonging to the National Park. The huge North Sea sands falling dry at low tide attract a lot of tourists almost all over the year. However, winter is the chance for a calm stay experiencing uncrowded beaches as well as wildlife and nature.
Dagebüll harbour featuring the necessary ferry port infrastructure links Amrum to the mainland.
Dagebüll lighthouse hardly looks over the dyke. Now inactive it once had to be topped up to keep up with the necessary dyke building measures. Today it can be booked for a hotel stay. Shortly behind the lighthouse the last stop of the railroad connecting to the Hallig islands Langeneß and Oland is located.
Sailing from Dagebüll to Amrum one can catch a glimpse of the Hallig islands on the port side.
Totally four lighthouses (all active with Wittdün being the only exception) lead the way through the Wadden Sea around and to Amrum,
In ancient times being connected with the mainland Amrum already had been settled. When strong winds unveil otherwise sand covered places still traces of the early inhabitants can be found. Fenced they are barely visible for the knowing archaeologists. For tourists traces of an iron age house foundation have been reconstructed to a full size building inviting to walk in.
Even Megalithic tombs and Bronze age burial mounds can be spotted in the dunes of Amrum.
The dunes shield the island to the open North Sea at the westward coast. Signposts mark the way to and around the protected area.
Amrum lighthouse represents the island’s best known landmark.
Even at low visibilty Amrum lighthouse is worth a visit.
The sands invite migratory and wintering birds as well.
The “Kniepsand” being almost 15 km long and up to 1,5 km wide constitutes Europe’s broadest sand beach. Technically it is a sand now permanently connected to the island contrary to a beach growing outwards from the isle.
Strong winds may carry swaths of finest sand through the atmosphere endangering the function of photographic equipment.
Out of season one may be alone walking the sand. Nevertheless abandoned play equipment stimulates an imagination of the visiting masses during saison.
Huts and so called “Strandburgen” built of flotsam provide shelter. They are tolerated despite land-use plans forbidding construction. As long as they are build of flotsam they are sustainable buildings – somehow.
The eastern shore of Amrum is protected against flood by a long dyke. A memorial reminds to the workers involved. Its inscription bearing a swastika is almost invisible since it has been destroyed after the end of World War II.
Every year the so called Biikebrennen takes place in North Frisia. The origin of these bonfires is unclear. It might have been a pagan custom transformed later into fires greeting whalers. The Biikebrennen replaces the more commonly known easter fires. During winter tree branches are collected, piled up to stacks along the coast, and set to fire at the evening of the 21 February (Saint Peter’s Eve in South Jutish). The local community gathers around the fires having a party.
A further well known landmark is Amrum windmill. Open to the public at specific times it displays working mill mechanisms.
A thatched roof covers Amrum windmill. Reed is the major building material of the houses’ roofs in “Nebel” municipality located centrally on the island.
Restored so called “Talking gravestones” on St.-Clemens-church cemetery in Nebel give insight to the life of the former mainly seafaring inhabitants.
Corpses of unknown sailors washed to the shores of Amrum are buried on the Cemetery of the Nameless.
