Borkum: Mudflats, Lighthouses and Island History

Borkum combines lighthouses and a network of around 130 kilometres of cycling and hiking trails with maritime history and the Hohe Riff west of the island, which, including the seal bank, is strictly protected as a quiet zone. Viewpoints, trails, nature topics and culture offer different focal points for your stay. If you are travelling with family, you can decide together whether you would prefer to plan a lighthouse climb, museum exhibits, outdoor activities or a guided exploration of the mudflats.

Coast and Protected Nature

Borkum’s North Beach is the last remaining breeding area for the Kentish plover in Lower Saxony. Breeding conditions are seasonal, and the breeding area is protected. Another distinctive landscape feature is the seal bank: it is a sandbank in the southern part of the Hohe Riff, a marine area with sandy and mudflat areas west of Borkum. The sandbank is naturally mobile.

The Hohe Riff, including the seal bank, is strictly protected as a quiet zone in the Lower Saxon Wadden Sea National Park. Entry is prohibited there year-round; please observe the local signs. This clear boundary makes the Hohe Riff a natural area where protection is part of the visitor experience—the sandbank cannot be treated as an excursion destination open to free access.

Trails for Different Plans

The network of around 130 kilometres of cycling and hiking trails also invites you to go jogging. For a single, specifically described tour, the Borkum section of the Dollard Route offers a different point of reference: it runs for more than 22.2 kilometres from the harbour through natural areas, along the sea, through the island town and back to the harbour. Check local trail conditions before setting out.

Nordic walking is also catered for, with signposted routes: eight courses are marked by difficulty level in blue, red or black. This lets you choose between a longer route that passes through several landscape sections and one of the marked courses when planning your day, without implying that both offer the same experience.

Two Lighthouses, Different Landmarks

At the New Lighthouse, 308 steps lead to the viewing platform. From there, the view extends over the island town of Borkum, the dune landscape, the Wadden Sea UNESCO World Heritage Site and the open North Sea. The Electric Lighthouse offers a different point of reference: it is 27 metres high and stands on the edge dune south of the town centre. It takes about 15 minutes to walk there from the town centre. This gives you two options for different excursion plans: a lighthouse climb with a view, or a walking route from the centre to another landmark.

Maritime History and Animal Life

Through its exhibits and rooms, the Dykhus Local History Museum presents 300 years of maritime history and brings the history of the island of Borkum to life. A special exhibit is housed in the Whale Hall: you can see the 15-metre-long, 35-tonne skeleton of a sperm whale. The whale had stranded on the Schleswig-Holstein coast in 1998.

The North Sea Aquarium Borkum displays marine animals from the waters around Borkum in 16 tanks, each with a different theme. An accessibility assessment from 2021 described access for wheelchairs and pushchairs as problem-free. If this is important to your plans, confirm the current conditions before your visit.

Activities with Expert Guidance

State-certified Borkum mudflat guides can take you through the mudflat landscape and provide expert information about the life forms found there. Dates and providers may change; check the latest information if you are planning a guided tour. Two schools based on Borkum also offer kitesurfing courses for beginners and advanced learners, where participants can obtain an internationally recognised kitesurfing licence. Here, too, it is worth checking the current course offerings.

Another active option is the North Sea Climbing Park Borkum, featuring a high ropes course with 60 stations and a 14-metre-high giant swing. The offerings focus on different experiences: guided insights into the mudflats, kitesurfing courses and high-altitude challenges.

Getting Here and Points of Reference for Choosing Accommodation

Borkum can be reached from the ferry ports of Emden and Eemshaven. Check the providers’ latest information before travelling. On the island, the historic narrow-gauge railway connects Borkum Reede pier with the town centre over a distance of seven kilometres; you should also check the latest service information in advance. Together with the harbour, the start and finish point of the Borkum section of the Dollard Route, these provide concrete points of reference for planning. When choosing accommodation for your stay, consider whether your days will focus more on trails and tours, the town centre, a lighthouse climb, or cultural and nature-related activities.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Baltrum, Spiekeroog, Wangerooge, Norderney, Juist, Langeoog.

Back to the main travel overview: East Frisian Islands.