Krummhörn presents visitors with an interesting quandary. Where to go first? With 19 member communities, you are spoiled for choice from the first moment you arrive.
Naturally, one of the first choices needs to be land or sea. There is no doubt that the water is a major part of all the communities here. In fact, before the area caught on as a tourist destination, fishing and sailing were the biggest contributors to the economy.
Now, many of the fishing posts and boats have been converted to tourist stops. More than 1,000,000 people visit the communities annually, attracted by the quaint buildings and bright colors of the ships.
Krummhörn’s number one tourist community is Greetsiel. Its attractions range from a pumping station to the chance to rent boats for Wadden Sea excursions. In the summer months, though, watch out! There may only be 1,500 natives, but out of towners can crowd the boardwalks on the weekends like a Berlin shopping street.
However, don’t let the crowds keep you away. There really are a variety of worthy attractions here, even if getting a good seat at the Fischerhus restaurant (a top seafood spot) is almost impossible without reservations on a summer Saturday night.
I think the funniest don’t miss spot in Greetsiel is definitely the ship in a bottle museum. Nowhere else in the world will you find such a display, and even small children will be boggled by the ingenuity it takes to put such intricacies into the different bottles.
Krummhörn also offers visitors a number of beaches and lounging space in addition to the boutiques and seaside museums. If you simply want to slip away for a quiet time on the ocean, aim for a mid-week or shoulder season visit to the sandy dunes.
By sneaking in during the off-peak times, you’ll be able to stroll between the communities, bake on the sands, see all the sights, and pat yourself on the back for slipping into this top holiday destination when the crowds aren’t there to overwhelm.
