Vacation on Amrum: 7 Unique Features of the North Sea Island

Endless Kniepsand, romantic boardwalks, the tallest climbable tower on the North Sea coast, and Germany's largest nude beach: On a vacation in Amrum, you'll discover every day what makes the island so special.

The lifestyle on Amrum is truly unique: The North Sea, the Wadden Sea, and an incredible natural landscape come together here, welcoming visitors with a sense of freedom, wild romance, and the quaint charm of the islanders. Many travelers agree: Amrum is one of a kind, and we reveal seven unique features that can only be found on Amrum.

Amrum is small, but its beach is huge: The island features one of Europe's widest and finest sandy beaches. The Amrum Kniepsand stretches 12 kilometers long and about 1.5 miles at its widest point. Each village on the island offers several access points to the Kniep.

The beach was formed from an ancient sandbank that gradually moved towards the island. Since the Kniepsand lies above sea level, it forms a 'high sand' that is not submerged by the North Sea during high tide. When the wind blows along the coast, the sand is trapped in the dunes, compensating for losses caused by storm surges, making Amrum one of the few North Sea islands gaining land.

The dunes on Amrum are famous. These sand hills protect the island from sea-side storm surges. Since this dune landscape is seen as a natural insurance policy, it is under special protection. Walking on them is prohibited, but Amrum has a unique solution: countless boardwalks that allow for long walks through the dunes while keeping visitors off the fragile landscape.

The network of boardwalks on Amrum spans nearly 12 kilometers, longer than the island itself. Only local carpenters are employed to construct the boardwalks, using primarily Amrum fir wood.

Amrum is the ideal destination for fans of the free body culture. The island is home to Germany's largest and oldest nude beach! While in the past beachgoers would nearly always swim in the nude, today three beaches are designated as nude beaches. Each of the three communities, Wittdün, Nebel, and Norddorf, has its own designated nude beach area.

Tip: You can spend the night at the Amrum Nude Campsite, situated among the dunes. In 2018, the sanitary facilities were renovated, and a communal space was built. You can pitch your tent starting from just 5 euros.

The lighthouses along the North Sea coast have a long history and have saved countless sailors' lives. Sitting loftily among the dunes between the villages of Wittdün and Nebel is a lighthouse with a superlative as it is the tallest climbable lighthouse on the North Sea coast!

The Amrum Lighthouse was inaugurated in 1875 and stands 41.8 meters high. From the base of the dune to the balcony, you'll need to climb 297 steps. Once on the observation platform, you're rewarded with a fantastic view of Amrum, the neighboring islands Sylt and Föhr, and the Wadden Sea.

Traditions play a major role on Amrum, especially evident in the language. Although Standard German is spoken on the island, the Amrum dialect is the second official language: Öömrang, or Amrum Frisian. The name comes from the Frisian word for Amrum. Today, about 600 people still speak Öömrang, and the streets on the island have Frisian names.

Amrum is surrounded by a spectacular mudflat landscape. Not only are the traditional mudflat hikes a must-do on an Amrum vacation, but you can also hike from one island to another: from Amrum to Föhr and back.

The route is over five miles long and takes about three hours. It's exciting to cross a tidal creek (dry spare clothing needed!) and make a short stop at the shipwreck of 'City of Bedfort,' which sank in the Wadden Sea in 1825 after a storm surge. The return trip is made by ferry, regardless of which island you start from.

No North Sea island is complete without Frisian specialties: During your vacation on Amrum, it's a must to try the island's treats. Known especially is the Frisian tea from the Amrum Tea Shop, particularly the Öömrang Pünj and Amrumer Tidentied varieties. A perfect pairing is the Friesentorte, considered a sweet classic on Amrum.

A hidden gem for the best Friesentorte is the Friesen-Café in Nebel. Located in a Frisian house over 250 years old, it has been serving homemade cakes and pastries since 1950.

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