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Beach without the Sea: What Makes Upleward on the North Sea So Special
Have you ever heard of Upleward on the German North Sea coast? If not, it is where the world's first dry beach opened many years ago.
With great infrastructure, play areas, and leisure activities, it is a beach paradise, with one thing missing: the sea! Upleward is located several kilometers inland instead of directly on the Wadden Sea. But that does not make this extraordinary beach any less popular. We reveal what awaits you there.
Upleward: Where is it located?
Upleward is a village with 376 residents in Lower Saxony - more specifically, in East Frisia in the municipality of Krummhörn, about 15 kilometers northwest of Emden. It is around two kilometers from the North Sea and has offered a unique tourist attraction since 2000: its exceptional dry beach.
What was initially called an 'East Frisian joke' according to the official municipal website is now a popular vacation destination, especially for families.
Traveling to Upleward
If you do not want to travel by car, you can also reach Upleward conveniently by train, for example, to Emden and then by bus towards Krummhörn, which also stops in Upleward. Alternatively, you can take the train to Norden, from where buses also operate to Upleward.
What Upleward's dry beach has to offer
Upleward's dry beach is located behind the dike, covers about 9000 square meters, and was extensively renovated in 2020. Since then, there are great new attractions for both young and old: For children, there is a large pirate ship, water play areas, and various climbing and play equipment.
If you like to be active on vacation, Upleward's dry beach offers a beach volleyball and a beach soccer field. Even though it is a dry beach, there are also opportunities to try water sports. Those interested can practice kitesurfing around the dry beach. And the best part: afterwards, relaxation awaits on seating and lounging areas or in beach chairs. There is also a wheelchair-accessible wooden plank path available.
Food and drinks are taken care of at the dry beach: At the Watt'n Blick kiosk, you can get snacks and drinks - and you can also start guided mudflat hikes from there. If you prefer biking, the well-developed dike paths are perfect for relaxing bike tours. The region is also great for bird watching.
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