Discover Reinsbüttel

Reinsbüttel’s character comes from traces of a settlement and dike landscape shaped over a long period. A HISTOUR site on a long dwelling mound brings early settlement history to life; there is also a historic dike route and the story of water and land reclamation. In the wider destination of Dithmarschen, museums, hiking opportunities and regional food culture broaden the range of themes. You can focus on Reinsbüttel itself or make the wider Dithmarschen perspective the main focus of your trip.

Dwelling mounds, water and dike history

The long dwelling mound is an artificial settlement mound built from clay and constructed in the 12th century. The settlement probably had a small harbour, used by inland dwelling-mound settlements for maritime trade. If you are travelling with children, you can explore the history of settlement and trade together through the terms dwelling mound and harbour.

The Wardstrom is part of the wider landscape history of Dithmarschen: until the 16th century, it separated Büsum Island from the mainland of the Nordermarsch. The newly reclaimed land was enclosed by dikes as the Wahrdammkoog between 1595 and 1609. A historic route from Reinsbüttel ran along the Wahrdamm, built in 1585, towards the former island of Büsum and as far as the sea dike near Oesterdeichstrich. Today, the Wahrdamm has been levelled.

More themes in the wider destination of Dithmarschen

In Meldorf, the Dithmarscher Landesmuseum takes visitors through 1,200 years of Dithmarschen—from the wealth of the peasant republic to everyday rural life in the 1960s. The Museumslandschaft Dithmarschen brings together 19 museums, run by both professional staff and volunteers, across eleven locations. If you would like to include culture in your travel plans, you can choose between a wide-ranging historical overview and the diversity of the museum locations.

The Stone Age Park Dithmarschen offers a different perspective: hands-on activities include flint knapping, archery, making Stone Age jewellery, fire-lighting and bread-baking. The specific activities may vary depending on the programme. The Stone Age Forest next to the park covers around 40 hectares of natural open land and contains nine original archaeological monuments. It is open year-round and free of charge; check accessibility before your visit.

There are also different types of hiking routes. The first stage of the North Sea-Baltic Sea Hiking Trail runs through Dithmarschen and is just under 40 kilometres long; the entire long-distance trail runs in five stages from Meldorf to Kiel. By contrast, the “Mötjensee and White-tailed Eagle” route near Lunden is an easy, 12.79-kilometre circular trail for hiking across flat terrain. Comparing the two can help you choose between a longer stage of a long-distance trail and a shorter circular walk.

Guided mudflat hikes with knowledgeable local National Park mudflat guides offer a way to experience nature on the coast. At low tide, they reveal the rich life of the Wadden Sea; tides and guided tour times vary. If you include these experiences in your plans, it is worth checking the relevant dates and tide conditions.

Regional food culture

At the KOHLosseum’s Krautwerkstatt, demonstrations followed by tastings take place on Tuesdays to Thursdays at 2, 3 and 4 pm. From 1 November until Easter, only the 2 pm demonstration takes place; check the times before your visit. During the Dithmarscher Kohltage, the programme across Dithmarschen includes farmers’ markets, town festivals, and sporting and cultural events. Together, these activities give an impression of the variety of cultural experiences and regional culinary delights in the wider destination of Dithmarschen.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Oesterwurth, Bargenstedt, Helse, Karolinenkoog, Schülp, Albersdorf, Hägen, Schmedeswurth.

Back to the general travel guide: Dithmarschen.