Maasholm lies on a peninsula in the Baltic Sea fjord Schlei; to the east, the municipality borders the Baltic Sea. The harbour, fishing village history and nature activities give the town different sides to explore. When planning your visit, you can choose between a walk around Maasholm, walking or cycling routes, and seasonal activities on the water.
Harbour and Waterways
Maasholm's marina has 450 berths with electricity and water connections. Capacity and facilities may change during operation. If you are planning to use the harbour, check the latest information. The excursion boats “MS Stadt Kappeln”, “MS Nordlicht” and “MS Schlei Princess” depart from the Schumacher Bridge in Maasholm or from the harbour in Kappeln. As timetables and operations can change, it is worth checking the current timetable before planning a boat trip.
There is also a designated place for launching a canoe: the canoe launch is on the beach behind the municipal harbour and provides access to the water. Windsurfing courses take place directly on the Wormshöfter Noor, a shallow bay between Maasholm and Wormshöft. They are offered seasonally during the German summer holidays.
Local History on a Walking Tour
A walk around Maasholm takes in the harbour, the listed historic landing stages for Schlei boats, St Peter's Church, the listed lifeboat station built in 1916, and small thatched-roof fishermen's cottages. St Peter's Church was built on 22 November 1952 as a simple mariners' church on a rise near the water. From there, the view extends across the broad bays of the lower Schlei as far as Buckhagen, Rabel and Ellenberg.
The Tourist Information Centre in Maasholm includes a small fishing museum that tells the story of fishing in the town. Another place to discover art and architectural history is the Handwerkerhuus: the gallery, which opened in 1989, is housed in the former brick stable of Maasholm's listed town hall. A tourism guide published in January 2017 also describes the bronze sculpture “Peter Aal”, erected in 1999, as a landmark of the fishing village; it depicts an eel spearer.
If you would rather not explore the history on your own, you can book a guided tour of Maasholm. It introduces visitors to the history and maritime character of the fishing village. Booking arrangements may change, so check them if you are planning to join a tour.
Nature Activities Around Maasholm
The Maasholm Nature Experience Centre was established in a former rocket station close to the Baltic Sea beach and the Oehe-Schleimünde bird sanctuary. It offers seasonal nature programmes for tourists, school classes, groups and birthday parties; activities may change. A two-kilometre nature trail leads from the Exhöft hiking car park to the Nature Experience Centre, offering another way to explore the area on foot.
Another nature activity in the area is the guided tour into the SchleimĂĽndung nature reserve offered by Jordsand. Tours start at the bird observatory hut and are available from April to October. When planning, it is worth checking the dates for the seasonal activity you have in mind.
Cycling and Walking Routes
The cycling route “Via Altona to Belgrade” starts and ends in Maasholm and is about 35 kilometres long. The municipality also offers guided bike tours during the summer months. These are usually 35 to 55 kilometres long and mainly follow quiet country roads through the Angeln landscape. Weather and wind can affect the details of these seasonal routes. The main difference between the options is their format: the named route is described as starting and ending in Maasholm, while the guided tours have a typical distance range and a route through Angeln.
The nature trail from Exhöft to the Nature Experience Centre complements the longer cycling routes with a two-kilometre walk. If you are considering Maasholm as a place to stay, you can choose your focus based on whether you are mainly interested in exploring the town and its fishing history, enjoying a nature activity, or taking longer bike rides. Before booking a specific guided tour or boat trip, check the relevant dates or timetable.
Schleswig-Flensburg in a Broader Context
The wider Schleswig-Flensburg destination also includes Haithabu and the Danewerk, which have been UNESCO World Heritage Sites since June 2018. At 773 hectares, Geltinger Birk is the largest nature reserve in the Schleswig-Flensburg district. These regional cultural and natural attractions are part of the wider destination and are distinct from the sights and activities in Maasholm.
Discover more destinations: Esgrus, Rabenholz, Sterup, Stangheck, Steinberg, StoltebĂĽll, Hasselberg, Kronsgaard.
Back to the main travel overview: Gelting Bay.
