Helgoland - Traditional Costumes

The people living on Helgoland and in other parts of Friesland likes to wear their traditional clothes during festivities or whenever possible. Today, by chance, I had a chance to see a demonstration by two Friesland women when they showed their multilayered long skirts. After this little show it was time for a bit of folk dancing. The dancing here reminded me about traditional dancing in Dalarna, Sweden.

Helgoland - the Sunny Island

Helgoland is ranked as one of the sunniest places in Germany. The mild climate, thanks to the Gulf Stream, makes for mild summers and winters here. Even some exotic plants can spend the winter outside here without any worries.

At lunch time today I met a very talkative couple from Lübeck (this is a very German destination - a perfect place to practice my German language skills!). They told me that they had just spent one sunny week here and that today was the first rainy day! They wished me better luck with the weather for a future visit. During their week here they had seen lots of birds and taken long walks around the island.

So much to see and so little time here at Helgoland! We are now planning to set sail tomorrow at 10 AM. Our next destination is Brunsbüttel in Germany.

Helgoland - the Wellness Island

The car-free environment here makes it the ideal destination for health and wellness. A holiday on Helgoland means, not least for allergy sufferers and asthmatics, that by coming here they can breathe deeply again. The island air in the middle of the North Sea is very rich in iodine and oxygen, it is nearly emission-free and poor in pollen.

Helgoland is also an official German spa destination under the name "the North Sea Spa". All traditional spa treatments are available here including medicinal baths and various wellness offers. All island visitors, including those arriving by own vessel like ourselves, are required to pay a small spa fee, even if you don't use any of the spa facilities.

Helgoland is also a shopper's paradise. The island is not subject to the EU Customs Code, meaning that products are exempt from customs duties and  VAT. 

Today I met many daytrippers arriving by a catamaran coming from Hamburg. I have a strong feeling that most of them came here to buy tax free alcohol,  tobacco and parfum rather than to participate in any wellness program. On my rainy village walk today I tried to find shops displaying atmosphere rather than spirits...