The Halligen are a series of tiny islets that are neither islands nor mainland, off the North Frisian coast of Germany, that offer visitors an unforgettable experience.
Located northwest of Husum, in a circle around the island of Pellworm, the Halligen range between three and 960 hectares in size. A devastating storm surge in January 1362, known as the ‘Große Mandräke’, or Great Man Drowning, is considered the birth of the Halligen. Of the over 100 islets of the 14th to 19th century, only ten survived, due to efforts in the 20th century to protect them from erosion.
Without protective dikes, the islets are repeatedly flooded by the North Sea, requiring residents to keep essential emergency supplies on hand. Tourists visit the Halligen to enjoy their unique, unspoiled beauty, and the numerous resident and migratory shorebirds.
