The Island of BORKUM - West of East Frisia

The tour of German islands is coming to an end: I've taken you with me from the former easternmost isle in the Baltic across the north sea to the Dutch border - where we'll spend a couple of carefree summer days on Borkum.

Doesn't this beach with the colorful chairs and cabanas just look like the perfect summer destination?!

The island of Borkum is one of the seven East Frisian Islands off the coast of Eastern Friesland. It is not only the largest, but also the westernmost and therefore geographically actually closer to the Netherlands than to the German mainland.

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The Island of NEUWERK - where the way is the goal

"So, by which ferry did you get here?" asks the chubby little lady and her accent gives her away as Southern German. "Well, I came here walking", I beam at her, still thrilled by my hike from the mainland to the island of Neuwerk.

To Neuwerk - this way! You cannot blame people if they don't believe that you came to an island walking.

The lady looks over the rough sea where the huge waves are rolling towards the shores of Cuxhaven. She frowns and shakes her head and is, obviously, thinking I'm trying to tell her a cock and bull story.
Little does she know: Visiting the island of Neuwerk, the way is the goal; definitely.

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The Island of HELIGOLAND - soft spot with rough edges

A trip to Heligoland is always a good idea: On just one square kilometer, it unites soft sand dunes and rough cliffs, adds tax-free shopping to natural wonders like frolicking seals and jumping guillemots.

The number of gannets on the rocks on Heligoland's western cliffs will just overwhelm you.

Heligoland is a tiny archipelago that long ago used to be Danish and British, but is, actually, as German as can be since the poet Von Fallersleben wrote the National Anthem during his stay on the island in 1841.

However, visiting Heligoland today, either on a day trip or for a longer stay, it is almost impossible to imagine that at the end of  WWII, Germany's supposedly only deepsea island was completely bombed out and even uninhabitable for ten long years.

Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, today, Heligoland is one of Germany's most popular island when it comes to a couple of relaxing days in a secluded spot.

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The Island of FÖHR - every village a home

Föhr - every village a home: What's that all about?

I'm not able to figure out Föhr's strongest suit - there are so many great things to do and see; the traditional architecture is certainly one of the most alluring ones.

Well, let me take you to one of Germany's most popular holiday islands where almost each of the 16 villages' name ends with the suffix -um. Since this is the Frisian and Lower German version of heim...which translates to home, you can imagine how cozy and homey this North Frisian island is to its....homies.

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