Discover Dithmarschen: Stone Age, museums and the Wadden Sea

Experience the Stone Age and enjoy the outdoors

The Dithmarschen Stone Age Park in Albersdorf is an archaeological open-air museum. Visitors can experience and actively explore the way of life of hunters, fishers and gatherers 5,000 years ago. Hands-on activities include flint knapping, archery, making Stone Age jewellery, making fire and baking bread. Families who enjoy trying things out rather than just viewing exhibits will find a distinctive focus for their day trip here.

The Stone Age Forest is next to the park: this natural outdoor area covers around 40 hectares and is permanently open and free of charge. Albersdorf’s Stone Age Forest is also home to nine original archaeological monuments. This means visitors can choose between hands-on activities at the open-air museum and exploring a spacious natural area. The approximate size helps give you a sense of the site without suggesting a specific walking time.

Museums and regional history

The Dithmarschen State Museum in Meldorf takes visitors through 1,200 years of Dithmarschen’s history. Its themes range from the wealth of the peasant republic to everyday rural life in the 1960s. This historical span makes the museum a good choice for travellers who want to explore more than just one period of regional history.

The region’s museums extend beyond the State Museum: the museum landscape brings together 19 professionally and voluntarily run museums in eleven locations. Those with a focus on culture can therefore weigh up Meldorf’s broad historical overview against other museums in the region. St. Andrew’s Church in Weddingstedt offers another glimpse into the past: it is one of the five so-called original parishes in Dithmarschen. It thus complements the museums with a connection to the region’s ecclesiastical history.

The Wadden Sea and coast in Friedrichskoog

The national park station in Friedrichskoog is located on the south side of the harbour. This information centre features a national park exhibition. Other attractions in Friedrichskoog include a seal rescue and rehabilitation centre and the Wadden Sea Conservation Station. From Friedrichskoog, the conservation station looks after the Wadden Sea National Park in southern Dithmarschen, along 30 kilometres of coastline between the Meldorfer Koog and the mouth of the Elbe.

If you would like to experience the Wadden Sea beyond an exhibition, consider a guided mudflat walk. Knowledgeable local national park mudflat guides lead these walks along the Dithmarschen coast. At low tide, the Wadden Sea’s diverse wildlife becomes visible. The coast therefore offers a different focus for your trip from archaeological discoveries or a museum visit.

Hikes, cabbage and choosing where to stay

The Mötjensee and White-tailed Eagle route near Lunden is a circular trail covering 12.79 kilometres. It is described as an easy, flatland walking route. For a longer hike, there is the first stage of the North–Baltic Sea Hiking Trail, which runs through Dithmarschen and is just under 40 kilometres long. The long-distance trail as a whole comprises five stages and runs from Meldorf to Kiel. The stated distances help you compare a circular walk with a long-distance trail stage as two different types of hike.

Local food culture is another part of what the region has to offer. The KOHLosseum’s cabbage workshop offers demonstrations followed by tastings on Tuesdays through Thursdays at 2, 3 and 4 pm; from 1 November until Easter, only the 2 pm demonstration takes place. During Dithmarschen Cabbage Days, the whole region hosts a varied programme of farmers’ markets, town festivals, and sporting and cultural events.

When choosing a holiday apartment, use your preferred experiences as a guide: Albersdorf is known for its Stone Age Park and Stone Age Forest, Meldorf for its State Museum and as the starting point of the North–Baltic Sea Hiking Trail, Friedrichskoog for national park themes, and Lunden for a specific circular walk. If you would like to combine several interests, Dithmarschen also offers its museum landscape and Cabbage Days as additional themes to consider when planning your trip.

More places in Dithmarschen

Discover more places and municipalities in Dithmarschen: Friedrichsgabekoog, Ostrohe, Bunsoh, Eddelak, Bargenstedt, Sarzbüttel, Schmedeswurth, Hedwigenkoog, Dingen, Osterrade, Kirchspielslandgemeinden Eider, Weddingstedt, Linden, Süderhastedt, Süderdorf, Burg, Lehe, Reinsbüttel, Rehm-Flehde-Bargen, Hellschen-Heringsand-Unterschaar, Hillgroven, Wesselburen, Hennstedt, Kaiser-Wilhelm-Koog, Trennewurth, Neufeld, Bergewöhrden, Schlichting, Welmbüttel, Nindorf, Tensbüttel-Röst, Buchholz, Eggstedt, Kronprinzenkoog, Hemme, Karolinenkoog, Marne, Busenwurth, Wesselburenerkoog, Westerdeichstrich, Averlak, Glüsing, Warwerort, Windbergen, Barlt, Odderade, Heide, Norddeich, Nordhastedt, Norderwöhrden, Arkebek, Süderdeich, Tiebensee, Lunden, Hörst, Schafstedt, Wesselburener Deichhausen, Offenbüttel, Meldorf, Pahlen, Oesterwurth, Wöhrden, Nordermeldorf, Schalkholz, Hemmingstedt, Epenwöhrden, Büsumer Deichhausen, Krumstedt, Groven, Dellstedt, Hägen, Strübbel, Kuden, Oesterdeichstrich, Wrohm, Gudendorf, Neuenkirchen (Dithmarschen), Büsum, Friedrichskoog, Sankt Michaelisdonn, Schülp, Kleve, Elpersbüttel, Helse, Volsemenhusen, Stinteck, Brunsbüttel and Albersdorf.

For the broader travel overview: Schleswig-Holstein.