Hillgroven – a dispersed settlement in the marshland

Hillgroven between fields and water management

Hillgroven is considered a largely dispersed settlement. In the Wesselburen marshland, fields of grain, rapeseed, cabbage, potatoes and sugar beet shape the surrounding area. The settlement pattern and crops each add a different character: both the dispersed layout and the agriculturally used landscape are part of the area’s character.

A technical landmark is the Hillgroven pumping station. It was built in 1972 as an outer-dike sluice during a dike reinforcement project and is located near Koogweg in Wesselburenerkoog. The year it was built places the pumping station within the history of dike reinforcement; Koogweg and Wesselburenerkoog provide a specific geographical reference. The area thus brings together an agricultural landscape and a history of water management.

Eider Barrage and Eider Estuary

The nearby Eider Barrage is a popular excursion destination in the Wesselburen area. The 230-metre-long structure is designed to protect the Eider Estuary from North Sea storm surges and ensure drainage of the Eider region. A road tunnel also runs through the Eider Barrage, connecting Wesselburenerkoog with the Eiderstedt peninsula. The structure can therefore be viewed in terms of its different roles in flood protection, drainage and regional connectivity.

Around 620 hectares of the Eider estuary area have been designated for the protection of characteristic plants and animals. The Eider Estuary is also an internationally significant wetland and a refuge for Red List species. In the Wesselburen area, the horizon also changes with the tides: even at the same time of day, the view may differ on consecutive days. Water management at the Eider Estuary and the shifting horizon in the Wesselburen area thus offer different perspectives on the landscape.

Nature and agriculture in the wider destination of Dithmarschen

In the wider destination of Dithmarschen, Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park is one of Germany’s 14 national parks and the largest between the North Cape and Sicily. The Wadden Sea is considered one of Europe’s most bird-rich areas. The salt marshes are home to hundreds of plant and animal species found only in this habitat. This regional perspective on nature differs from the specific crops named around Hillgroven.

Dithmarschen is Europe’s largest contiguous cabbage-growing region. Around 90 million heads of cabbage are produced there each year; the quantity may vary from year to year. This figure refers to Dithmarschen as a whole, while around Hillgroven the landscape is shaped by fields growing several specific crops. The local farmland thus sits alongside a regional perspective on cabbage cultivation.

Culture and activities in Dithmarschen

The wider destination of Dithmarschen also offers a range of cultural and historical attractions. The Dithmarscher Landesmuseum in Meldorf takes visitors through 1,200 years of Dithmarschen, from the wealth of the peasant republic to rural everyday life in the 1960s. The Museumslandschaft Dithmarschen brings together 19 museums, run by professional staff and volunteers, in eleven locations. The Landesmuseum focuses on a broad span of time, while the museum network encompasses several locations.

The Dithmarschen Stone Age Park offers hands-on activities such as flint knapping, archery, making Stone Age jewellery, fire-making and bread baking; the programme may vary. In addition to the Stone Age Park, the Stone Age Forest in Albersdorf includes around 40 hectares of natural outdoor grounds, which are permanently free to access. Check the latest access information before visiting. The wider destination therefore offers a choice of cultural and historical museum themes, hands-on activities and an archaeological outdoor area.

Discover more destinations: Friedrichsgabekoog, Linden, Wesselburenerkoog, Brunsbüttel, Sarzbüttel, Wesselburen, Eggstedt, Meldorf.

Go to the wider travel overview: Dithmarschen.