Ladelund: Memorial, History and Natural Swimming Pool

Ladelund combines a moving local history with a wide range of things to discover: the village museum and an internationally renowned concentration camp memorial are located near the church. Archaeological finds date from the Late Bronze Age through to the Viking Age. A natural swimming pool and activities related to equestrian sports add further options to your stay.

History in layers

St. Peter’s Church is also a remarkable ensemble. It is considered a heritage ensemble of historical, artistic, urban-planning and landscape significance. It includes the church’s fittings, the churchyard, the fieldstone wall and the rectory. An update to the heritage register entry is planned.

An archaeological excavation at Auf den Toften covered 2.8 hectares and brought settlement traces from three distinct periods to light. The oldest finds date from the Late Bronze Age and include a house and a wood-reinforced pit with a cup-marked stone. A Viking settlement dating from the 10th century comprised around 20 sunken-featured buildings, most of which were used as workshops.

A well-preserved sunken-featured building contained traces of textile production, a heating oven and evidence of a forge. Glass and rock crystal beads, as well as a rolled piece of gold wire, suggest that a goldsmith worked in the settlement. Slag finds also point to glassmaking. Because of its exceptional finds and high concentration of workshops, the settlement is considered an important site and a unique testament to the past.

Another facet of the village’s history is vehicle development. In 1939, automobile designer Paul Kleinschnittger began developing cars in Ladelund and built a chassis there. The first prototype, known as the “98er,” was completed by the end of the 1940s. The F 125 followed earlier models; its production was moved to Arnsberg in 1950.

The Memorial and Visiting

The memorial’s permanent exhibition is titled “The Concentration Camp in the Village: The History and Aftermath of the Ladelund Subcamp” and is available in German, English, Dutch and Danish. The memorial includes a documentation centre, graves for 300 victims, a partially restored anti-tank ditch, an information memorial stone and the Garden of Encounter.

The site of the former camp, a restored section of the anti-tank ditch and the graves are freely accessible at all times. The exhibition, graves area and Garden of Encounter are accessible to visitors with disabilities. Exhibition information and accessibility details may change, so please check them before your visit. Visitors wishing to conduct more in-depth research can use the archive by prior arrangement. The library covers the history of National Socialism and the Ladelund camp.

The memorial also offers a useful stopping point for cycle tourists: the Grenzroute passes through Ladelund, and there is a signposted detour to the memorial, where bicycle parking is available. Check the current route before setting out.

Swimming and Equestrian Sports

For a different kind of day out, there is the natural swimming pool. It consists of two connected, spring-fed lakes in a landscaped setting; the water is untreated. Facilities include diving towers, a large sunbathing lawn, beach volleyball and a kiosk. A separate children’s pool with a slide and island adds to the facilities. There are different ways to enjoy a day by the water here.

Wilhelminenhof in Ladelund is a boarding and training facility that welcomes recreational riders and amateurs. RuFV Wilhelminenhof Ladelund hosts three major competitions each year: a dressage competition, a show-jumping competition and the Ladelunder Springtage. Dates and programmes may change; check the event details before your trip.

Plan Your Stay Around Your Interests

If you want to discover Ladelund through its history, the memorial, church, village museum and finds from Auf den Toften offer different ways to explore the past. The natural swimming pool and equestrian sports provide a different focus, adding water and activity to the cultural and historical programme. When choosing accommodation, you can consider which of these themes you would like to shape your stay. This makes it possible to plan a trip around your own interests, without letting a single reason for visiting define the entire stay.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Gröde, Klixbüll, Neukirchen, Bondelum, Bredstedt, Goldelund, Hattstedtermarsch, Enge-Sande.

Go to the regional travel overview: North Frisia.