Norderney – white sands and unspoiled nature in the North Sea

UNESCO World Heritage Islands – one of world’s top 100 sustainable destinations

By the time you reach the island, your everyday stresses and troubles have long since slipped away.

The challenge is to preserve this unspoiled paradise for future generations too.

Set in the North Sea, on Germany’s coast between Holland and Denmark, Norderney has everything you could need for a really healing, relaxing holiday.

Norderney used to be the summer residence of the Royal House of Hanover when visitors included not only ‘Royals’ (including George V), but aristocrats, diplomats and politicians from all over Europe. Franz Kafka and Heinrich Heine at one time also enjoyed Norderney’s sea air, drawing inspiration from the waves.

Today, the island is a popular tourist destination, continuing to draw celebrities from politics, entertainment and culture.

The island covers over 26 square kilometers – 85% of which is totally unspoiled and natural, as part of the Wadden Sea National Park.

It provides a real playground for activities which include 14 kilometres of fine sandy beaches and around 80 kilometres of extensive cycling and walking trails past salt marshes and coastal wetlands, amidst stunning dune landscapes.

And if you are coming to the sea for its healing powers – you have come to no better place – Germany’s largest thalasso centre is located on Norderney. This 8,000m² complex offers a whole host of seawater pools, saunas and wellness treatments.

Naturally, as many tourists wish to visit these islands and it is important to preserve their natural heritage for future generations and to make the destination sustainable culturally, environmentally, economically and socially.

Nature and environmental conservation are, of course, primarily important and approximately 80% of terrestrial area and 100% of the marine area are protected. The UNESCO Visitor Centre "Watt Welten" in Norderney informs visitors about the Wadden Sea unique natural formation and organizes guided nature excursions and tours.

The municipality promotes the use of renewable energy on the whole island.  99% of its public buildings and services use green energy and CO2-neutral gas. Furthermore, the whole island has excellent water quality for bathing and health tourism is strongly promoted.

From an economic perspective, there are many local products that are available to tourists from beer to paintings, from food to fair trade products.

And, of course, as befits a North Sea island there are many parties including the White Sands Festival http://www.whitesandsfestival.de/

http://greendestinations.info/top100-2016/?dest=norderney-juist

http://www.norderney.de

Valere Tjolle

@ValereTjolle