Dithmarschen offers a glimpse into very different periods: at the Dithmarschen Stone Age Park, visitors learn about ways of life 5,000 years ago, while the Dithmarschen State Museum in Meldorf spans 1,200 years, reaching through to rural everyday life in the 1960s. There are also hiking trails, guided mudflat walks and activities centred on cabbage. These examples take you to different places in Dithmarschen—from Meldorf and Albersdorf to Lunden, Friedrichskoog and Weddingstedt.
Museums and history in Dithmarschen
The Dithmarschen State Museum in Meldorf takes visitors through 1,200 years of Dithmarschen’s history. Its timeline stretches from the wealth of the farmers’ republic to rural everyday life in the 1960s. If you would like to explore more than one museum, Dithmarschen has 19 museums, run by both professional and volunteer staff, in eleven locations. This is a different scale from a visit to the State Museum in Meldorf: the wider museum landscape is spread across several places.
Another historical landmark is St Andrew’s Church in Weddingstedt. It is one of the five so-called original parishes in Dithmarschen. The museum, the wider museum landscape and the church thus offer different ways of exploring regional history: through a long historical period and everyday life, through museums in many locations, and through the historical status of a church.
Stone Age Park and Stone Age Forest in Albersdorf
At the Dithmarschen Stone Age Park in Albersdorf, visitors can actively discover the way of life of hunters, fishers and gatherers 5,000 years ago. The open-air archaeological museum offers hands-on activities such as flint knapping, archery, making Stone Age jewellery, making fire and baking bread. The activities on offer may vary depending on the programme; check the current offerings when planning your visit.
The Stone Age Forest lies next to the park. It covers around 40 hectares of natural open space and contains nine original archaeological monuments. The grounds are permanently open and free to access; check the latest access information before your visit. This distinguishes two different aspects: the activities in the park programme and the archaeological monuments in the extensive woodland.
National park and mudflats on the coast
In Friedrichskoog, the National Park Station is located on the south side of the harbour. It is an information centre with a national park exhibition. Other attractions in Friedrichskoog include a seal rescue and breeding centre and the Wadden Sea Conservation Station. From Friedrichskoog, the Conservation Station looks after the Wadden Sea National Park in southern Dithmarschen, between Meldorfer Koog and the mouth of the Elbe. The coastal stretch it covers is 30 kilometres long.
Guided mudflat walks along the Dithmarschen coast reveal the Wadden Sea’s diverse wildlife at low tide. They are led by knowledgeable local National Park mudflat guides. Tides and guided walk dates vary; check in advance when a suitable walk is available.
Hiking routes: circular walk or long-distance trail
For a specific hike near Lunden, the “Mötjensee and Sea Eagle” route is a useful option: it is 12.79 kilometres long, an easy circular walk and designated for flatland hiking. By contrast, the first stage of the North–Baltic Sea Hiking Trail runs through Dithmarschen and is just under 40 kilometres long. The entire long-distance trail comprises five stages and runs from Meldorf to Kiel. At the stated distances, the Lunden loop is considerably shorter than the first stage of the long-distance trail—a useful comparison when choosing between a circular walk and one section of a longer route.
Experience cabbage: demonstrations and event days
At the KOHLosseum’s Krautwerkstatt, demonstrations followed by tastings take place from Tuesday to Thursday at 2, 3 and 4 p.m. From 1 November until Easter, only the 2 p.m. demonstration takes place. Since the schedule is important for planning a visit, check it in advance.
During Dithmarschen Cabbage Days, a varied programme of farmers’ markets, town festivals, and sports and cultural events takes place throughout Dithmarschen. Individual events and dates may change. The demonstrations at the Krautwerkstatt and the regional events programme therefore offer two different ways to experience cabbage and public life in Dithmarschen.
Discover more destinations: Büsum, Friedrichskoog, Sankt Michaelisdonn, Schülp, Wöhrden, Nordermeldorf, Schalkholz, Hemmingstedt, Meldorf, Pahlen, Epenwöhrden, Büsumer Deichhausen, Krumstedt, Groven, Dellstedt, Wesselburen, Busenwurth, Wesselburenerkoog, Westerdeichstrich, Averlak, Glüsing, Warwerort, Windbergen, Barlt, Odderade, Heide, Norddeich, Nordhastedt, Norderwöhrden, Arkebek, Süderdeich, Tiebensee, Lunden, Hörst, Schafstedt, Wesselburener Deichhausen, Offenbüttel, Oesterwurth, Albersdorf, Kleve, Elpersbüttel, Helse, Volsemenhusen, Stinteck, Brunsbüttel, Bunsoh, Eggstedt, Marne, Kronprinzenkoog, Hemme, Karolinenkoog, Hennstedt, Osterrade, Kirchspielslandgemeinden Eider, Weddingstedt, Linden, Süderhastedt, Süderdorf, Burg, Lehe, Reinsbüttel, Rehm-Flehde-Bargen, Hellschen-Heringsand-Unterschaar, Hillgroven, Hedwigenkoog, Dingen, Eddelak, Bargenstedt, Sarzbüttel, Schmedeswurth, Kaiser-Wilhelm-Koog, Trennewurth, Neufeld, Bergewöhrden, Schlichting, Welmbüttel, Nindorf, Tensbüttel-Röst, Buchholz, Friedrichsgabekoog, Ostrohe, Hägen, Strübbel, Kuden, Oesterdeichstrich, Neuenkirchen (Dithmarschen), Wrohm, Gudendorf
See the broader travel guide: Schleswig-Holstein.
