Nordstrand

Nordstrand (North Frisian: di Ströön) is a peninsula and former island in North Frisia on the North Sea coast of Germany. It is part of the Nordfriesland district in the federal state of Schleswig-Holstein. Its area is 50 km² and its population is 2,300 (2022). Nordstrand has two municipalities, Nordstrand and smaller Elisabeth-Sophien-Koog, which are part of the Amt Nordsee-Treene. Translates to "North Beach"



In medieval times Nordstrand was a part of the larger island of Strand, which was torn into pieces in a disastrous storm tide in 1634. More than 6,000 people drowned. Before 1634 the area of the island was about 210 square miles (540 km2). Other remnants of Strand are Pellworm and some Halligen islets.

Regions
Nordstrand, Norderhafen, Suderhafen, England, Suden, Dreisprung

Pellworm, Nordstrandischmoor

Understand
There are large expanses of flat green grassy farm fields with grazing sheep, protected from the sea by sloping dikes. Good level bicycle paths on some of the dikes. Some of the homes and buildings use the old traditional thick grass reeds for thatched roofs. A few old fashioned Dutch style windmills are still around.

Together with the neighbouring islands of Pellworm, and Nordstrand Ischmoor, Nordstrand formed the large island of Strand (also: Alt-Nordstrand) until before 1634. Devastating storm surges, however, repeatedly destroyed large areas of the island (such as the proverbial Grote Mandränken in 1362 and 1634). In the course of the following centuries, however, lost land masses could also be reclaimed through dikes.

At the transition of 1906/07, the island finally received its first permanent access to the North Frisian mainland through the construction of a connecting dam from Wobbenbüll.

With the last diking of the Beltringharder Koog in 1987, Nordstrand finally became a peninsula. As a result of its designation, the new Koog became the largest nature reserve in Schleswig-Holstein on the mainland.

The North Frisian island is connected to the mainland by a 4-km-long car causeway. In 1990, Nordstrand was awarded the title of Seeheilbad. The North Sea spa town of Nordstrand is divided into two municipalities. There are 2,256 inhabitants in the municipality of Nordstrand and 55 inhabitants in the municipality of Elisabeth-Sophien-Koog as of 2022.

The municipality of Nordstrand also includes the Hallig Nordstrandischmoor with 22 inhabitants on four terps. Elisabeth-Sophien-Koog was first mentioned in a document in 1804/05. The Koogers have been able to maintain their political independence to this day. Attempts at incorporation in the 1970s failed due to the resistance of the Koog residents. Economically, too, the small community is not doing badly.

A visitor's tax must also be paid on Nordstrand. The visitor's tax is retained by the landlords, day visitors get their spa card at the tourist information. (Details)

If you can read German there is an interesting historical fiction murder mystery book that relates to living on the island - Die Frau auf Nordstrand (The Woman on North Beach)

North American emigrants who used it as a surname
The original Nordstrand island (before the flood of 1634) is the ancestral homeland of the North American surname ‘van Nostrand’ (including variants: vanNostrand, vanNordstrandt, vanOstrand). Of the 6,000 inhabitants on the island in 1634, 1,200 survived the flood, and of them, two brothers emigrated via Amsterdam to what is present day New York, USA, in 1637 and 1638 after the flood. One of the three granite panels of the Canadian van Nostrand monument, in York Mills Cemetery in Toronto (St John’s York Mills Anglican Church, 19 Don Ridge Dr.), points to Nordstrand Island.

By plane

 * is the nearest commercial airport (155 km).
 * (etwa 57&#x202F;km) (approx. 57 km) has a lighted runway for aircraft with a gross vehicle weight of up to 5.7 tonnes. There is a flight connection from Heligoland with the OFD.
 * (etwa 20&#x202F;km) (about 20 km) is in Schwesing about 10 km east of Husum and is only served by small private aircraft.

By train
From Hamburg you take the Marschbahn to Husum. Continue by bus.

By bus
Nordstrand can be reached by public transport via the regional bus line R 140. This runs in the Nahverkehrsverbund Schleswig-Holstein from Husum Railway Station starting at the Nordstrand ferry pier in the harbour of Strucklahnungshörn. From here you can take the ferry to Pellworm. Rhe operating concession is held by the bus company Autokraft.

By car
From Hamburg, take the motorway  to Heide. From there, continue on the road  to Hattstedt. Continue on the K 81/L 30 to Nordstrand.

By boat

 * In the Süderhafen on the Hever, in the home port of the Nordstrand Water Sports Club, Süderhafen 1a.  (clubhouse), Mobile: . Sailboats up to 10 metres in length.


 * The The port of Strucklahnungshörn on the northwestern shore of the island on the Wadden Sea stream Fuhle Schlot is primarily reserved for the island ferry to Pellworm that runs from here, and for seaside resort shipping to the Halligen Hooge and the municipality of Nordstrandischmoor.


 * The commercial port of Holmer Siel can be reached via the Holmer ferry further north. It is primarily used by the Schleswig-Holstein State Agency for Coastal Protection, National Park and Marine Conservation (LKN) as a building yard for shipping building materials for work in the Wadden Sea area.

By bicycle
The North Sea Coast Cycle Route leads via Nordstrand. The route from Husum to Strucklahnungshörn is 26 km long.

Nordstrand is easy to explore by bike due to its size and public bike path infrastructure. Many well-developed cycle paths lead around the whole island, in front of the dike or behind the dike. Past the mudflats or fields and meadows, you can get (almost) anywhere. If you don't have your own bike with you, you can rent one from:


 * Uhles Bike Rental, Osterdeich 26., E-Mail: olaf.hansen@feriendienst-hansen.de.
 * Tina's Bike Rental, Kreuzweg 3. Mobile:, E-Mail: tinas-fahrradverleih@op-de-warft.de.

Do
The beaches can be quite windy, and therefore the beach lovers have small movable beach huts or cabins which provide some shelter on the beach. The front opens up to sit and enjoy the beach view.



Eat
Nordstrand's specialties are salt marsh lamb, sand plaice and, of course, fresh crabs.

Drink
Nordstrand is the origin of a locally famous alcoholic beverage, the Pharisäer (Pharisee), which the islanders developed in 1872 to be able to drink alcohol in the presence of local pastor Georg Bleyer, who preached abstinence. It is made from hot strong coffee, sugar, dark rum (4 cl of 54% vol.) and whipped cream (to prevent the alcohol from evaporating, so that it could not be smelled). The pastor got the only cup without rum, but one day the cups got mixed up. When he discovered the deceit he exclaimed "Ihr Pharisäer!" ("You Pharisees!", connoting: "hypocrites"). Hence the name.

Sleep
A visitor's tax must also be paid on Nordstrand. The visitor's tax is retained by the landlords, day visitors get their spa card at the tourist information. (Details)





Go next
The town of Husum, near the entry to Nordstrand is a worthwhile stop. They have some interesting museums and other.