Rodenäs between the marsh landscape and village history

Rodenäs is known for its marsh landscape, the German-Danish border region and village history. The Rickelsbüller Koog lies within the municipality of Rodenäs and in the North Frisian Marsh. The nature reserve covers around 534 hectares; the border dyke separates the German Rickelsbüller Koog from the Danish Margrethe Kog. This gives you several options to consider when planning your trip: nature observation, cycling tours on both sides of the border and local cultural history.

Rickelsbüller Koog: habitats and protection rules

The protected biotopes in the Rickelsbüller Koog include standing water bodies, reed beds, lower and upper salt marshes, and grassland influenced by brackish water. The nature reserve therefore encompasses several different habitat types. The access rule is important for your visit: entry to the nature reserve is prohibited; fishing and water sports are also prohibited there. Follow the instructions on local signs when you are there.

Birdwatching and cycling

In spring and autumn, large flocks of birds use the connected nature reserves to replenish their reserves before continuing their migration. The border dyke and the outer dyke offer good birdwatching opportunities. A birdwatching hut below the border dyke overlooks grassland and Koog waters; there are also information boards at the border dyke. These help you understand the viewing locations and protected landscape, while keeping in mind that access to the nature reserve is restricted.

The Wiedingharde Information Centre offers guided birdwatching tours several times a year. Check the current tour dates if you would like to include a guided tour in your travel plans. Cycling tours on both sides of the German-Danish border are also part of Rodenäs’s appeal. Birdwatching and cycling offer different ways to plan your trip; check the dates of any guided tour in advance.

Church, dwelling mounds and local history

St. Dionysius Church is at the heart of Rodenäs. Listed as a historic ensemble, “Rodenäs Church” is located in Oldorf and comprises the church and its furnishings, the churchyard and the bell house. Settlements on large dwelling mounds can still be seen near Krummhusum, near Tevelum and at Langwarft in Oldorf. The church and dwelling mounds provide tangible points of reference for local history alongside the marsh landscape.

A historical perspective on multilingualism is also part of the area’s history: in the 1970s, 28 percent of Rodenäs’s residents were recorded as speaking five languages. The timeframe is important: this figure dates from that decade. Together with the visible dwelling mounds, it reveals another side of the area, distinct from the nature-related themes around the Koog.

Flower meadows and insect protection

As part of the Bienenhafen project, flower meadows covering a total of 80,000 square metres were created in Rodenäs. These meadows are part of local efforts to protect insects; insect hotels and information boards are also in place. As project elements may change over time, check their current status if you wish to include any specific features in your plans.

North Frisia as the wider regional setting

Looking beyond Rodenäs to the wider travel destination of North Frisia, the region has 441 kilometres of coastline. The five North Frisian islands in Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park include Sylt, Föhr and Amrum, among others. North Frisia also includes ten Halligen, distinctive landforms within the national park. This regional context complements Rodenäs’s local character, shaped by the Koog landscape, the border region and village history.

Discover more destinations: Gröde, Holm, Bargum, Dagebüll, Sankt Peter-Ording, Norderfriedrichskoog, Tümlauer Koog, Wittdün

For the regional travel overview: North Frisia.