Friedrichstadt Old Town

Stepped gables of small bricks, canals with rowing boats, bridges over still water: stroll through Friedrichstadt and you might think you were in North Holland. In fact this small town lies between the Eider and Treene rivers in North Frisia. It was founded in 1621 as a trading town for Dutch religious refugees, and that heritage gives it one of the most unusual townscapes in Schleswig-Holstein.

History: a town of tolerance

Duke Frederick III of Gottorf dreamed of a trading metropolis on the west coast. He invited Dutch citizens, above all the persecuted Remonstrants, and guaranteed religious freedom. Mennonites, Lutherans, Catholics, Jews and Quakers followed, and the town became known as a "town of tolerance"; five religious communities are still active. The metropolis never materialised, but the settlers built as they had at home, importing small Dutch bricks, ready-made sandstone gables, tiles and even planks. From 29 September to 4 October 1850, during the Schleswig-Holstein war, a bombardment destroyed 285 houses. Restoration in the 1970s and 1980s saved much of what survived.

What to see

• Market square: nine stepped-gable houses from the founding years on the west side, including the "Edam House" with sandstone angel heads.
• Canals: the Mittelburggraben divides the town, laid out like a chessboard; the Fürstenburggraben runs further south.
• Große Brücke: the granite bridge by the market, probably from 1773, frames the most photographed view. The town has 18 bridges in all.
• House marks: coloured reliefs above doors; the oldest, a dove with an olive branch, dates from 1622.
• Prinzenstraße: the Paludanus House of 1637 and the Double-Gable House of 1624.
• Alte Münze: the town museum, with a view into the Mennonite prayer hall.

On the water

Several operators run canal boat trips, and you can hire canoes, kayaks or stand-up paddleboards.

Practical information

Public guided walks run April to October. Car parks P1–P3 are right by the old town, and hourly regional trains between Hamburg-Altona and Westerland stop here. Allow three to four hours.

Tripto tip

For the classic photo, stand on the Große Brücke in the morning, and look out for new house marks that owners still add today.