Some people were surprised when they found out that Norderney is both a town as well as an island. They were expecting an ordinary German town, only to find out that nothing about Norderney is normal.
No, maybe normal isn’t the right word. How about extraordinary? Yeah, that’ll do.
For more than three centuries, Norderney has been a beach lovers delight — with many famous visitors over the years. People like King George V of Hanover, Frederick III, Franz Kafka, and Heinrich Heine have visited the shores of Norderney.
I don’t know, maybe they liked mudflat hiking. Hey, it wouldn’t be a stretch, considering this entire East Frisian island lies along the Wadden Sea National Park.
And who wouldn’t enjoy a hike around the salt marshes? Nature lovers will find all sorts of interesting wildlife around the island, everything from grey seals to deer, grey goose to gulls, ducks to owls.
Add in an overabundance of seafood (hello, island) like crabs, mussels, and shrimp — and you’ve got yourself one helluva feast.
Norderney doesn’t just stop at food and fowl. Nope, they like to party here, too. Throughout the year all sorts of events go on, like the White Sands Festival and the Spring Bazaar. Every so often special guided bike tours are available around the island, as well as Puppet Theater and outdoor concerts.
For the most part, visiting the “Bathing Museum” is a daytime affair, but special nighttime tours of this museum (totally dedicated to the swimming culture) are offered.
The other museum in Norderney is the Fischerhaus — a glimpse into 17th century fishing life.
Sailing throughout the centuries really used to be quite dangerous, often relying on lighthouses to guide their way — and any island worth their weight in salt should have at least one. Norderney’s lighthouse is known as the Große Leuchtturm (Tall Lighthouse), built atop a 10-meter high dune to guide their fishermen home.
Yes, extraordinary would be the right word for Norderney — and well worth coming back to again and again.
