On Wangerooge, the winter storms have almost completely washed away the main beach. “This is quite a disaster,” said Rieka Beewen, the mayor’s general representative. Accordingly, almost 80,000 cubic meters of sand were missing. The islands of Norderney and Baltrum also reported significant sand losses.
It was said that fewer beach chairs might initially be set up on Baltrum than usual. The beaches are now to be replenished using dump trucks that bring sand from eastern parts of the islands.
The East Frisian Islands off the coast of Lower Saxony recorded more sand losses than the North Frisian Islands in Schleswig-Holstein. The storm “Zoltan” around Christmas in particular caused damage. Lower Saxony’s state government promised the island municipalities financial help to rebuild the tourist infrastructure. On Sylt, too, frequent and long-lasting storms in the winter season have visibly affected the beaches.
