Rodenäs combines marshland, birdlife and village history; cycling tours on both sides of the German-Danish border are also part of its local character. A striking natural area is the Rickelsbüller Koog: this nature reserve lies in the North Frisian Marsh and covers about 534 hectares. When planning a visit, both the landscape’s distinctive features and the protection rules are important.
Rickelsbüller Koog: Nature and Protection Rules
The Rickelsbüller Koog belongs to the municipality of Rodenäs. Protected habitats include standing water, reed beds, lower and upper salt marshes, and grassland influenced by brackish water. The coexistence of these habitat types offers an impression of the Koog’s landscape diversity. Visitors are not permitted to enter the nature reserve; fishing and water sports are prohibited there. Check the signs on site before visiting.
Birdwatching and Cycling
The border dike and the outer dike offer good birdwatching opportunities. The border dike has information boards and a birdwatching hut below the dike, with views over grassland and the Koog’s waters. The outer dike also offers good birdwatching opportunities; the hut and information boards are located at the border dike. It separates the German Rickelsbüller Koog from the Danish Margrethe Kog.
In spring and autumn, large flocks of birds use the connected nature reserves to replenish their reserves before continuing their migration. These two seasons provide a specific guide to when bird migration takes place. The Wiedingharde Information Centre offers guided birdwatching tours several times a year. Check the latest dates if you are planning a tour.
Rodenäs highlights cycling tours on both sides of the German-Danish border. This brings together two distinct pursuits: birdwatching in the Koog landscape and cycling with a cross-border focus.
Insect Protection and Village History
Local insect protection in Rodenäs includes wildflower meadows, insect hotels and information boards. The Bienenhafen project created wildflower meadows across an area of 80,000 square metres. Alongside the Koog’s protected habitats, these municipal initiatives show another aspect of nature in Rodenäs.
St. Dionysius Church is the centre of Rodenäs. The listed historic complex “Rodenäs Church” is in Oldorf and includes the church and its furnishings, the churchyard and the bell house. Local history is thus reflected both in a central place of worship and in a complex made up of several elements.
Settlement patterns also form part of the cultural landscape: large dwelling mounds are still visible in Krummhusum, Tevelum and at Langwarft in Oldorf. Dwelling mounds are elevated settlement sites; the large mounds mentioned here therefore shift the focus from individual buildings to settlement patterns. Language offers another historical perspective: in the 1970s, 28 percent of Rodenäs residents were recorded as speaking five languages.
North Frisia in a Wider Context
The wider travel destination of North Frisia has a coastline extending 441 kilometres. Sylt, Föhr and Amrum are among the five North Frisian islands in the Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park. North Frisia also includes ten Halligen, a distinctive type of landscape within the national park. The region also offers a broader cultural perspective: among Schleswig-Holstein’s districts, North Frisia has the highest density of museums and the largest number of listed cultural monuments.
Discover more destinations: Simonsberg, Drage, Osterhever, Viöl, Immenstedt, Süderlügum, Humptrup, Klanxbüll
For the wider travel overview: North Frisia.
