The Natural and Cultural Landscape of Eiderstedt

The landscape here on the Eiderstedt Peninsula is not only beautiful, but also rich in cultural, historical, and natural significance. Over a period of 2,000 years, the interactions between humans and nature have left unique traces in the landscape here—traces that are still well-preserved today and catch the eye of the attentive observer. Do they catch your eye, too?

Have you seen it yet?

Eiderstedt Landscape Basics

Dikes

The Eiderstedt Peninsula is almost entirely surrounded by dikes, which form a kind of protective barrier to shield the land from storm surges or high water levels.

Köge

A "Koog" is a piece of land reclaimed from the sea through the construction of dikes and drainage, and enclosed by dikes.

Warften

To protect against flooding and storm surges, artificial settlement mounds—known as “warften”—have been built from earth since the 3rd century B.C., allowing people and animals to live safely even without dikes. Incidentally, most of the churches in Eiderstedt were built on mounds. Depending on their size, a single mound can accommodate individual farmsteads or even entire village settlements.

Stöpen

To protect a koog during a storm surge, so-called “Stöpen” were built into the dike, with gates that can be opened and closed manually or mechanically. In Eiderstedt, there are a total of 17 such sluice gates, through which a road or other traffic route typically passes. The fire department regularly practices closing the sluice gates.

Flood stakes

Storm surges are a spectacular natural phenomenon—both fascinating and threatening at the same time. In Tönning, St. Peter-Ording, and at Tümlauer-Koog, storm surge markers tell of the danger to people and the land and show just how high water levels can rise during a storm surge.

Storm surges on the North Sea

Eiderstedt's Heck

They once shaped the cultural landscape of the peninsula: The Eiderstedt Heck, originally made of wood, is used in this region to close off the entrances to the "Fennes" (fields) and meadows.

Couple in front of the Heck in Eiderstedt

Tauteich

Dew ponds are a distinctive feature of the Eiderstedt landscape and were first created on the mounds 1,000 years ago to collect fresh water. Isolated and lined with clay and straw, they collect more dewwater at night and in the early morning hours than can evaporate during the day. On a tour through Poppenbüll, you can see one of these dew ponds for yourself!

Poppenbüll

"Fenne" (field)

In Eiderstedt, a "Fenne" (field) is the name given to a pasture surrounded by ditches. The vast, green Fennen, where cattle and sheep graze, will immediately catch your eye during your visit to the peninsula.

Grüppen

The groynes—typically constructed for coastal protection and land reclamation—form embankment fields that are drained by ditches up to two meters wide, known as “Grüppel” or “Grüppen.”

On a Discovery Tour

Eiderstedt Cultural Travel Guide

Discover the many cultural treasures of Eiderstedt! Let our cultural travel guide take you through charming villages, idyllic landscapes, and impressive buildings, and immerse yourself in the rich history of this North Frisian peninsula. A wealth of art and culture awaits you.

Available at the tourist information offices in Eiderstedt

Information on the Eiderstedt cultural season

Historic and unique

Stockenstieg

The path to the Westerheversand Lighthouse is marked by a rare example of traditional path construction: the 1,200-meter-long, historic “Stockenstieg,” built of clinker bricks, was originally the only paved access route to the lighthouse. Out of consideration for migratory and breeding birds, this cultural monument is accessible only from June through September.

Westerhever

A Glimpse of Eiderstedt

Eiderstedt Landscape Window

At four different locations on the Eiderstedt Peninsula, striking, rust-red “landscape windows” created by metal artist Arne Prohn invite visitors to pause in nature and take a closer look at what makes Eiderstedt so special. Information panels set the stage for these extraordinary spots and provide insightful explanations of what you see.

Information about the landscape windows

An Overview of Our Landscape Windows

An interesting view

Sheep in front of the Haubarg in Tetenbüll

The Pyramids of the North Sea

Haubarg (traditional farm housing)

Haubargs (traditional farm housing) are the farmhouses typical of the Eiderstedt Peninsula, featuring high thatched roofs—often more than 15 meters high. For centuries, people and animals lived together in Haubargs—albeit in separate rooms—under one roof, with hay stored in the center.

Podcast episode on the Haubargs (traditional farm housing)

Listen now

Fresh from the Field – with Jo from Salt & Silver and Himbeertobi

Amid raspberry bushes, fresh vegetables, and regional cuisine, we welcome culinary artists Himbeertobi and Jo from Salt & Silver—right in the middle of Tobi’s field on the Eiderstedt Peninsula. Together, they talk with Simone about sustainable vegetable farming, true regionality, and the question of why good food is so much more than just what ends up on your plate. How do creative dishes emerge from what grows right on your doorstep? What opportunities lie in close collaboration between agriculture and the restaurant industry? And why is it worth appreciating regional products more consciously again? Straight from the summer greenhouse: A conversation about passion, sustainable thinking, the flavors of the North, and why the natural surroundings of St. Peter-Ording and Eiderstedt offer so much inspiration for cuisine, enjoyment, and quality of life.

Beach Stories from the stilt house – with Heinzi Hecke

Heinzi has been with the Tourismus-Zentrale St. Peter-Ording for over 40 years and knows the beach like no one else. As a true native of Eiderstedt, he has collected countless stories—from special encounters on the pier to family reunions on the beach, right down to moments that have stayed with him to this day. In this episode, Simone talks with Heinzi about his daily life by the sea, Eiderstedt culture, and the changes that have shaped St. Peter-Ording over the years. It quickly becomes clear: For Heinzi, the beach is far more than just a workplace. An episode full of North German humor, memories, and real stories straight from the stilt house.

Strand aufs Herz—with Taina and Your Stories from St. Peter-Ording

What makes St. Peter-Ording a special place in the hearts of so many of you? Simone talks with Taina about life on the North Sea, special moments on the beach, and the magic of wide-open spaces and nature. Together, they delve into your fondest memories and stories—from “I’ve-made-it” moments and unforgettable St. Peter experiences to heartwarming encounters and extraordinary adventures. Each of your stories—from ultramarathon training to ice swimming—was unique. Thank you so much for enriching this podcast episode with your experiences! ❤️ This episode is a declaration of love for a place that, for many, is far more than just a vacation destination: a constant, a place to be—and sometimes even a second home.

Coast Against Plastic – with Jennifer Timrott

She’s an environmentalist, a creative mind, and a coastal dweller—we welcome Jennifer Timrott to the stilt house on the beach at St. Peter-Ording. Many years ago, she and her husband founded the organization “Küste gegen Plastik” (Coast Against Plastic). They came up with an app that lets users scan a barcode to let manufacturers know they’d prefer products without plastic packaging. Find out what drives Jennifer and what else she has planned in our conversation with her.

At the Frisian Sheep Cheese Dairy – with Redlef Volquardsen

On the Eiderstedt Peninsula, just a few kilometers from St. Peter-Ording, Simone visits the Frisian Sheep Cheese Dairy in the picture-perfect village of Tetenbüll. Here, Monika and Redlef Volquardsen carry on a long family tradition, lovingly crafting the milk from their 120 sheep by hand into unique Bioland sheep’s cheese. The first episode of “Deichmomente” isn’t just about the cheese: Redlef talks about working with his flock of sheep, life on the farm, and the small and big moments between the barn, the cheese dairy, and the farm stand. A glimpse into craftsmanship, tradition, and real life on Eiderstedt.

The Magic of the Wadden Sea – Experiences in the National Park

40 Years of the Wadden Sea – Our National Park Is Celebrating Its Birthday! In our new podcast episode, we’ll take you to a very special place: the Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea—a national park for 40 years and a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site for 15 years! In this episode, we chat with two true experts on the Wadden Sea: National Park Ranger Caro, who’s out in the field every day—keeping her eyes open for nature’s wonders and her ears open to visitors’ questions—and Claus from the team at the Aquarium Multimar Wattforum in Tönning—our largest information center for the Wadden Sea National Park. Why is the Wadden Sea so unique? What has changed over the past 40 years—and what can we do for the future? Tune in now, be amazed, and join the celebration!

Behind the counter at Haus Peters: Spices, Secrets, and Stories from an Old General Store

In this episode of DEICHMOMENTE, we’ll take you inside Haus Peters—a 19th-century merchant’s shop that has been preserved to this day. Amid creaking floorboards and nostalgic merchandise, we’ll delve into the history of trade in Eiderstedt. But this house in the tranquil, picture-perfect village of Tetenbüll is more than just a museum: it’s a vibrant cultural hub featuring exhibitions, events, and plenty of North Frisian charm. Give it a listen and experience the past up close! Or why not stop by and check it out for yourself if you’re ever in Eiderstedt!

The Digital World Meets North German Originals—Our Special Episode with Heinzi and Schacho

We have a very special podcast episode for you—our special episode, DEICHMOMENTE! Who doesn’t know them? Heinzi & Schacho! Two North German characters who really shook things up on our social media channels in 2024. By now, the two of them are known not only here on our Eiderstedt peninsula, but far beyond as well! No one would have guessed 40 or even 25 years ago that the two of them would ever end up in front of the camera, and generally speaking, landing this job here on the North Sea coast was more of a coincidence. It makes it all the more wonderful for us that they’re still part of our team today. But before we give too much away: Why not just give it a listen—Finja, our social media manager, sat down with these two coastal kids to get to the bottom of things.

A seal spotted! Now what? The seal hunter tells the story.

In this episode, we talk with Toni, the seal hunter at SPO and on the Eiderstedt Peninsula, and Finia, SPO’s social media manager, about a very special topic: seals, harbor seals, and monk seals—the small but wild stars of the North Sea. What does a seal hunter do? When should I report a stranded seal? What makes this work so special, and why is public communication on this topic so important? We have the answers—be sure to tune in!

25 Years of the Garding Musicians' Exchange

A music event known far beyond the Eiderstedt Peninsula is celebrating a special anniversary: The Gardinger Musikantenbörse is turning 25! In this episode, we speak with Jan Gawellek and Rainer Martens, who give us fascinating behind-the-scenes insights into this unique event. Learn all about the origins of the Musikantenbörse, the work of the “Musik für Garding” association, and the special highlights of this year’s “Silberbörse.” Why is the Musikantenbörse a must-see for music lovers? How did it all begin, and what motivates the organizers? What stories and anecdotes from the past 25 years are there to share? Our guests answer these and many other questions while sharing their passion and enthusiasm for the event and their hometown of Garding.

A Visit to the Kirchspielkrug in Westerhever

How about a trip to the lighthouse followed by a cozy stop for a bite to eat? Whether it’s hearty North Frisian fare or heavenly sweets, pure indulgence awaits you in Eiderstedt. By the way, typical spots in Eiderstedt are the “Kirchspielkrüge”—as the name suggests, these are taverns located right near a church, inviting you to stop by. For our new podcast episode “Deichmomente,” we were guests at the Kirchspielkrug Westerhever and spoke with Volker Böttcher about North Frisian moments of indulgence. After all, these moments play a major role at the Kirchspielkrug Westerhever, which bears the FEINHEIMISCH seal of culinary excellence. 🤗

Stormy North Sea

In the fall and winter, the weather on the Eiderstedt Peninsula on the North Sea coast of Schleswig-Holstein tends to get stormy. So it’s high time for our podcast "Deichmomente" to tackle the topic of storm surges. In this episode, as we chat with tour guide Herbert Wolff, you’ll learn a lot of fascinating facts about the North Sea’s forces of nature, as well as about the dikes and the impressive "Eidersperrwerk" (flood barrier) which protects the coast. But we’ll also be chatting about the unique world of the Hallig islands, mudflat tours in the Wadden Sea World Heritage Site, and the special “Spökenkieker” information center in Olversum on Eiderstedt.

The First Stilt House Behind the Dike - The Erlebnis-Hus

St. Peter-Ording, our favorite “sandbox” on the North Sea coast of Schleswig-Holstein—and here on the Eiderstedt Peninsula—has gained a new highlight: The Erlebnis-Hus, the first stilt house built behind the dike, is something truly special. Planned and built in collaboration with Holzer Kobler Architekturen GmbH and Uniola AG, the new Erlebnis-Hus was officially opened in the summer of 2023. But where exactly is this new stilt house located? What does it look like? What can you experience and discover at the Erlebnis-Hus? We’ll find out the answers in a conversation with Katharina Schirmbeck, Director of Tourism for St. Peter-Ording, and Christin Reisewitz from the events department of the Tourismus-Zentrale St. Peter-Ording.

Tönning Christmas Event

It’s the absolute highlight of the winter season on the Eiderstedt peninsula: the Christmas event at the Tönninger Packhaus! In this episode, we get to see this very special Christmas market from a different perspective, as we take a look behind the scenes and get to know the “Packhaus family.” Uwe Wrigge from the Packhaus Friends Association tells us how the Packhaus—once one of the largest warehouses on the coast—became the world’s longest Advent calendar and how the Christmas event came to be.

Around here, we say MOIN!

You’ve been waiting for this for a long time, and here it is: our low german episode, “Deichmomente”! From “Huulbessen” to “Slackermaschü”: In this episode, Katharina talks with “citizen of the world” and low german expert Marianne Ehlers about the low german language, why she’s so committed to preserving it, and why low german means “home” to her. Take part in the low german quiz and look forward to a low german story about “de schöönste Halfinsel.”

A Night in the North Sea—with Extreme Swimmer André Wiersig

Helgoland—can you swim there? In 2021, extreme swimmer André Wiersig swam from St. Peter-Ording to Helgoland wearing nothing but swim trunks and a swim cap. We talk to André about his experience, about the eerie and beautiful moments he spent in the sea, and about how important it is to him to protect our oceans!

X-H2O Water Sports Center — A Favorite Spot on Ording Beach

Our podcast guest is Hein Jeve, owner of the X-H2O Water Sports Center, which has been a fixture on the Ording waterfront since 2006 and is one of the largest surf schools in the country! We talk with Hein about his love for water sports, how his surf school got started, the effort involved, and give a quick overview of how all the different water sports differ from one another. We were very impressed by Hein’s answer to the question of what has driven him for so many years to run a business whose operations depend, among other things, on waves, wind, and weather!

A Guest in the World - At Home in a Stilt House

We visited Salt & Silver am Meer on Böhl Beach with Deichmomente. We spoke with Salt & Silver’s founders, Johannes Riffelmacher and Thomas Kosikowski, about the everyday madness that comes with opening a new restaurant. They explained to us the wonderful moments that come with a restaurant’s location right by the sea, but also the areas where this creates extra work, why sustainability must encompass many facets, and how you can learn, step by step every day, to advocate for a better future. What stands out most is that the two have a very special connection not only to the people around them but also to the ingredients they use in their dishes.

A Christmas Story by & starring Selina Seemann

Hohoho & Merry Christmas, dear Deichmomente listeners! In this episode, Selina Seemann is our guest on the podcast "Deichmomente". Selina has won the hearts of northern Germans with her unique way of speaking. We talk with the poetry slammer from the north about the Christmas season and its traditions, as well as the kind of Christmas cards she likes to write and why, for her, Christmas marks the start of a weeks-long sugar binge every year! She’s also brought along her very own low german Christmas story—just give it a listen, it’s going to be exceptionally heartwarming! You can also read Selina’s Christmas story in her latest book. You’ll find the recipe for traditional North Frisian Klütjes cookies on the Herzelieb blog. We wish you a wonderful holiday season and a happy New Year!

Working where others go on vacation

In this podcast episode, Simone talks with Katharina Schirmbeck, the tourism director of St. Peter-Ording and head of the Local Tourism Organization St. Peter-Ording / Eiderstedt, about St. Peter-Ording as a place to call home: living, working, enjoying free time—all around the clock on the 12-kilometer-long sandy beach. In addition to topics such as the Tourism Office as an employer and its core responsibilities, the two also delve into a very trendy topic: workation. What that actually means, why the concept is also very appealing to visitors, and how you can easily make a workation happen in SPO—you’ll learn all about it in an exciting 25-minute episode.

Art in Eiderstedt

On Sunday (August 29, 2021), the “Eiderstedt Open Studios Day” will take place. For an entire day, artists from Eiderstedt will open their studios and galleries to the public. To learn more about art in Eiderstedt, Katharina interviewed Dirk-Uwe Becker, the chair of the Förderverein für Kunst und Kultur Eiderstedt e.V. (Eiderstedt Association for the Promotion of Art and Culture). Dirk-Uwe Becker not only talks about the different types of art and creative work found on the peninsula, but also about how the light and the vast sky along our North Sea coast can influence art. And did you know that one of the oldest artists in Eiderstedt, puppeteer Marianne Vocke, packed up her rod puppets and traveled all the way to Morocco in her Volkswagen van to perform for people there?

Guided Tour of the Hochdorf Garden

Back in the spring, the “Hochdorfer Garten” was the topic of our podcast “Deichmomente.” Since we received such great feedback on that episode—and the weather right now is perfect for exploring the Hochdorfer Garten—you can look forward to a guided tour this month with Hans-Georg Hostrup through the stately village park in Tating. This episode takes a closer look at the individual sections of the garden and highlights just how diverse this historic garden is here on the North Sea coast.

The beach chair—our favorite wicker piece!

June 15 is the official “Beach Chair Day.” Find out in this episode why it’s this particular day and who actually invented it—our secret star by the water’s edge! We also stopped by Oliver Theede’s workshop, “Eiderstedter Strandkörbe” (https://eiderstedter-strandkoerbe.de/), in Friedrichstadt and learned a lot about beach chairs and how they’re made. How many hours does it take to build a beach chair? Is the beach chair actually only this popular here in Germany? We’ll get to the bottom of all these questions—stay tuned! We hope you enjoy this new episode of Deichmomente!

Enjoy! This is the taste of SPO & Eiderstedt

Detlef Arlt is a journalist, author, podcaster, and a jack-of-all-trades. For many years now, he has been writing for publications such as the St. Peter-Ording / Eiderstedt magazine and the foodie magazine Mohltied! Detlef loves Eiderstedt cuisine and knows exactly what treats you can indulge in at SPO and on our beautiful peninsula! We’ll also be talking to him about the perfect fish sandwich, farm-fresh vegetables, and quirky drinks that’ll really get you fired up! So if you’re interested in learning more about our regional dishes, don’t miss this episode! You can find plenty of Detlef’s tips for dining and exploring on our website: https://www.spo-eiderstedt.de/eiderstedt/essen-trinken And if you’re up for it, you can put together your own Northern German menu and get cooking: https://www.spo-eiderstedt.de/eiderstedt/essen-trinken/eiderstedter-spezialitaeten

Spring in the Hochdorf Garden, the beautiful village park in Eiderstedt

In the small village of Tating, located just outside St. Peter-Ording, lies one of the most beautiful spots in Eiderstedt: The Hochdorfer Garden. In this episode, Hans-Georg Hostrup—whom we met in the episode about the Haubarg (traditional farm housing)—tells us many fascinating things about the village park “Hochdorfer Garten” and the Schweizer. Did you know, for example, that a special variety of apple from this very garden won an award at the 1900 World’s Fair in Paris? If you’d like to learn more about this unique garden landmark, you can find all the information here: https://hochdorfer-garten.de/

Asking the Mayor

In this episode, Simone asks Rainer Balsmeier, the current mayor of St. Peter-Ording, what it’s actually like to step down after 25 years as mayor and leave the North Sea in a few weeks. She also talks to Jürgen Ritter, the future mayor, about what the local residents can look forward to in the future. Stay tuned for the 12th episode of “Deichmomente”!

A Journey Through the Seasons in the North

Join Simone and Anna & Michael from the blog “SaltyLove” on an imaginary journey through the seasons here with us on the North Sea. Exactly one year ago, these two bloggers fulfilled a dream and found their new home in Eiderstedt. In this 22-minute podcast episode, you’ll learn about everything these two northerners have experienced since then and why they love being outdoors so much, no matter the weather.

The WOCHENENDER Travel Guide

In Episode 10, Simone talks with Elisabeth Frenz, publisher of the WOCHENENDER travel book series, about the most beautiful places on the Eiderstedt peninsula, discovering unique spots, and how the first WOCHENENDER book actually came to be.

Haubarg, the Giants of Eiderstedt

In this episode of “Deichmomente,” Katharina & Simone speak with Hans-Georg Hostrup, owner of the Blumenhof Haubarg and chairman of IG Baupflege Nordfriesland & Dithmarschen e. V., about the giants of Eiderstedt: the Haubargs (traditional farm housing). Haubarg (traditional farm housing) is the typical farmhouse of the Eiderstedt Peninsula—where, for centuries, people and animals lived under one roof, albeit in separate rooms. The story of the Haubargs continues! Today, they serve as restaurants, vacation houses, and hiding places for true treasures of the past.

St. Peter-Ording Water Park

The "Deichmomente" podcast is back after the COVID-19 hiatus! Katharina & Simone spoke with three very different people about "St. Peter-Ording: A Swimmer's Paradise." In addition to Claus Heitmann, a local historian, and Nils Stauch from the DLRG St. Peter-Ording, Heinz-Dieter “Heinzi” Hecke is back to share his unique experiences from the sandbank.

Everything about sheep!

In mid-February, Katharina & Simone visited the sheep barn of amateur shepherd and horse lover Wiebke Weber in Tümlauer Koog. She answered all our questions about sheep with humor and passion. In this episode, you’ll find out what sheep are doing here on the dike and how long it takes for those cute little lambs to be born.

In Search of Amber!

Simone met up with Boy Jöns at the North Sea Amber Museum for the latest winter story! Boy, the North Sea coast’s leading expert on amber, reveals where amber can be found on our sandbank—and how this “gold of the North” actually ends up there.

Beach Stories from St. Peter-Ording - Tell Me a Story... In Eiderstedt!

Laugh along with Heinz-Dieter “Heinzi” Hecke, who has been working for 30 years as a beach supervisor, lifeguard, and beach chair rental operator on the beach at St. Peter-Ording, as he shares the funniest and most curious anecdotes and stories from his daily work.

1,000 Years of Church Architecture—Tell Me About It... In Eiderstedt!

We’ll take you on a journey back to the year 1000, where you’ll learn fascinating facts about Eiderstedt’s oldest resident, St. Magnus Church in Tating, and the development of the peninsula’s unique church landscape, featuring 18 remarkable churches!

The Tümlauer-Koog Through the Ages - Tell Me a Story... About Eiderstedt!

From a farming community to a popular vacation spot—the Tümlauer-Koog has changed quite a bit since its embankment was constructed in 1934! Let its residents tell you how their lives in the Tümlauer-Koog have changed!

Andresen Pub - Tell me a story... in Eiderstedt!

Discover the oldest tavern on the North Sea coast of Schleswig-Holstein! Volker Andresen, the owner of the Wilhel m Andresen tavern, will guide you through the historic rooms of this historic thatched-roof house on the Katinger Watt.

lighthouse "Westerhever" - Tell Me a Story... About Eiderstedt!

Come along on a visit to the lighthouse "Westerhever"! In the first episode, lighthouse guide Jürgen Birkigt will share the most important and fascinating facts about our peninsula’s landmark during a guided tour of the lighthouse!

Intro - Tell me something... About Eiderstedt!

In the first few episodes, experience the "Tell Me Something... In Eiderstedt!" event series from the Eiderstedt Peninsula via our podcast—and look forward to many more stories from the North Sea coast!

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Cover of the brochure "Travel Guide to St. Peter-Ording and Eiderstedt"