Wellness Camping on the North Sea

High up in the north of Germany, the Wadden Sea with its picturesque coasts and dykes offers the best conditions for a relaxing holiday at a wellness campsite on the North Sea. Thalassotherapies with seawater in the renowned spas have a beneficial effect on body and soul. Wellness can be combined with exercise in the fresh air, for example cycling or mudflat hiking.

Top tips

• A number of seaside resorts on the North Sea coast offer a combination of camping, bathing fun and wellness. Large spas offer travellers real pampering programmes with massages, mud and peat packs and seawater baths.
• Culinary delights are also catered for. The North Sea crabs are a real treat, which you can pick yourself in a beach chair or have served in the form of a salad. Other delicacies from the region include fried plaice fillets, herring rolls and salt marsh lamb.
• To clear your airways, you can simply sit on a bench on the dykes and let the fresh, iodine-rich sea air blow around your nose. The East Frisian and West Frisian Islands and the island of Sylt off the coast of Schleswig-Holstein are particularly recommended.

Activities and excursions

Wellness fans should definitely treat themselves to seawater therapy or take a deep breath in a brine steam bath. Hikes across the mudflats are also recommended.

Brine baths and thalassotherapy

Wellness spas and thermal baths are open to visitors along the entire coast of the Wadden Sea. The salty water of the North Sea is mostly used for thalassotherapy, which has a rejuvenating effect on the skin and is good for your health. Wraps with mud from the seabed are also recommended. You can also relax in one of the steam baths, in the whirlpool or in the sauna with a view of the North Sea beach. The best-known spas on the coast include the Thalasso Centre Ahoi in Cuxhaven, the Friesland-Therme in Horumersiel and the Dünentherme in Sankt Peter-Ording.

Discover a unique habitat on a mudflat hike

Exciting excursions across the seabed at low tide are organised in the national park houses. During such a tour, participants learn more about the Wadden Sea habitat, which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Among other things, you will learn about the flora and fauna in the mudflats. Events are regularly organised at some locations, such as barbecues on sandbanks or at the bottom.

Sledging on the seabed

For centuries, fish trap fishermen on the North Sea and in East Frisia in particular have brought their catches back to land by sledge. Sometimes dogs were also used for propulsion. Today, the tradition is not very widespread - but holidaymakers have the opportunity to book a guided tour with a silt sledge and operate the means of transport themselves. There are even races in Pilsum and Pogum every year.

Get to know East Frisian culture

East Frisia is known for its dykes and moors, the red and white striped lighthouses and the Low German language. Over the centuries, various sports have developed on the coast, such as hurling, kloot shooting and boßeln. Tea is inextricably linked to Frisian culture. The Frisian blend is ceremonially drunk with clouds of cream and rock sugar.

Events

Seamen's choirs, herring rolls and cutter tours are just a few of the festivals on the North Sea.

April

• Koningsdag: On King's Day at the end of April, the Netherlands dresses completely in orange and celebrates its monarchy.

May

• Matjestage Emden: More than 100 historic sailing ships sail into Emden harbour in the last week of May. The Matjestage are the best opportunity to try different varieties of herring.

August

• Husum Harbour Days: In mid-August, Husum harbour is transformed into a paradise for gourmets, music fans and anyone who wants to be inspired by Nordic music and jugglers.
• Norddeich fishing boat parade: At the end of August, a fishing boat parade in Norddeich creates a great atmosphere. You can also look forward to sea shanties and Nordic cuisine.