North Frisian Islands

The North Frisian Islands (German: Nordfriesische Inseln) are a group of islands off the coast of North Frisia. They are part of the larger group known as the Frisian Islands.

These islands are found in two countries: Schleswig-Holstein in Germany and the Danish Wadden Sea Islands in Denmark. Although the Danish islands are close by, they are often not considered part of North Frisia because the people there do not speak the North Frisian language.

Sometimes, the island of Heligoland is also included in this group for practical reasons, even though it is not in the Wadden Sea and has its own unique dialect of Frisian. These islands are special because of their unique culture and language.

History

The North Frisian Islands have a long history. People began settling there around the 8th century. The islands between Eiderstedt and Sylt became known as the Uthlande, where the North Frisians were ruled directly by the Danish king and called Königsfriesen, or "King's Frisians". Later, the Uthlande passed to the Duchy of Schleswig, except for a few small areas that remained under Danish control. After wars between Germany and Denmark, the islands from Nordstrand to Rømø became part of Prussia in 1866. In 1920, a vote decided the current border between the islands of Sylt and Rømø.

The Carl Haeberlin Frisian Museum in Wyk auf Föhr shows many details about the lives, work, languages, clothes, and traditions of the people who lived on these islands.

Islands

There are four larger islands and ten tiny islets along the coast. The big islands are called Sylt, Föhr, Amrum, and Pellworm. The tiny islets are known as the Halligen.

Sylt is the biggest island, covering about 100 km². You can reach it by train on a special road called the Hindenburgdamm. In summer, many visitors come to Sylt, and its main town is Westerland. The northern tip of Sylt is the northernmost point in Germany.

Föhr is quieter, with an area of 82 km². Its main town is Wyk, where ferries connect the island to the mainland.

Amrum is smaller at 20 km² but still attracts many tourists. It has a long beach on one side and several villages on the other, with Wittdün being the largest.

Pellworm and the nearby area of Nordstrand are what remains of an older, larger island called Strand, which was broken apart by strong storms long ago. Pellworm covers 37 km².

The ten small islands called Halligen are special because their houses are built on man-made hills that stay above water during big tides.