The Wadden Sea is when the tidal flats glisten in the sun, seals loll on the sandbank and excited oystercatchers flutter above the water. The boat glides leisurely through until the water recedes and everything stands still for a few hours. Between Borkum, Helgoland and Sylt, harbours and clubs ensure that pleasure boaters arrive safely and can moor comfortably at floating jetties.
At the same time, fairways are being closed for cable laying for the offshore industry, and locks and bridges are being closed for urgent renovation work. Anyone sailing along the coasts of the North Sea and in the Wadden Sea this season therefore needs up-to-date information and perhaps a plan B.
Find out everything you need to know about the 2026 season in our three-part North Sea update:
Part 1: East Frisia - The coast and the East Frisian Islands
Part 2: Jade and Weser - From Wilhelmshaven to Bremerhaven (available from 4 April 2026)
Part 3: Elbe and North Friesland - From Hamburg to Sylt (available from 5 April 2026)
East Frisia: Tradition meets energy transition
Between the Ems and Jade rivers, the landscape is characterised by shrimp boats, historic harbours and the offshore industry. No two East Frisian islands are the same, all are dream destinations - if you know the tides and current closures. Juist finally has soft ground in the harbour, Langeoog has new showers, and dredging for sufficiently deep water is taking place everywhere. But: cable laying is temporarily blocking the mudflats, and Harlesiel will remain closed until 2027. The first part of our three-part North Sea update takes us through East Frisia.
Juist: Soft ground at last
For a long time, the island of Juist had to contend with hard ground in the marina and a silted-up access road. This has improved significantly: the outer harbour and access road are being dredged, and in the marina a flushing ship is used to ensure sufficient water depth and a soft bottom into which keelboats can sink at low tide. Boats with a draught of 1.60 metres now come into the harbour two to three hours before and after high tide.
The Juist Sailing Club is celebrating its 90th birthday this year. To mark the occasion the island museum is showing a special exhibition during the season on the history of the club, which also takes a look at the history of sailing in this unconventional area.
Norderney and Baltrum: Megawatts in the mudflats
In the mudflats off Norderney and the Neighbouring island Baltrum offshore cables are laid. This leads to Closures lasting days in some cases with only short-term transit corridors. Boaters unfamiliar with the area who are planning a route "round the outside" to avoid the construction sites should avoid the Schluchter fairway off Norderney: It is extremely changeable and unfortunately a hotspot for life-threatening accidents.
Langeoog: More depth, more showers
On Langeoog The harbour basin was dredged in the area of the jetties, and the water depth is now 3.50 metres at high tide. The sanitary facilities have been modernised and the rooms reorganised: There are now more showers for ladies.
Spiekeroog: Fibre optics coming
Spiekeroog is the last of the East Frisian Islands to be connected to the fibre optic network. Temporary disruptions may occur during the construction phase. However, the marina can still be used regularly. By the way: Spiekeroog is a recognised star island. On clear nights, the starry sky can be seen more clearly here than in almost any other place between the Ems and Jade rivers.
Wangerooge: New face, clear view
Wangerooge is getting a facelift: the ferry harbour and the island railway tracks will be completely renovated in the coming years. The entire harbour area will be raised by 30 centimetres to prevent flooding. The wooden harbour operations building has already been demolished, and now the new construction is beginning.
The Sports boat harbour and the stilt house of the Wangeroog Yacht Club with the harbour master's office are not affected by the renovation work. On the contrary: after the demolition of the harbour operations building, the view from here over the Wadden Sea will be almost unlimited until the new construction begins.
This might also interest you:
On the coast: LED lights and forced breaks
On the coast in the city of Delft Emden The railway bascule bridge over the inland port has repeatedly caused problems. Deutsche Bahn is now planning a three-week full closure from 18 July to 8 August to carry out extensive repairs. As things stand at present, the closure will coincide with the Emden Delft Festival, which attracts many traditional sailing boats and water sports enthusiasts every year and enriches the cityscape. They may have to divert to the harbours in front of the bridge.
Before North dike the leading light line at the harbour entrance was equipped with LED technology. The conversion is part of the "Darker Sky" project against light pollution - stargazing instead of streetlights should thus also be possible on the mainland.
Harlesiel is taking a forced break: The lock system will be renovated until March 2027. Passage into the inner harbour and to Carolinensiel is not possible. The outer harbour is only suitable for short stops, there are no moorings for pleasure craft.
Current district information - always up to date
In addition to the obligatory official notices, recreational boaters in the ever-changing North Sea area keep each other up to date on various channels. For example, the Soltwaters association has set up a WhatsApp channel that provides information about construction-related closures in the Wadden Sea, among other things: WATT - INFO FROM SOLTWATERS E. V.
On WATTSEGLER.DE you will find everything you need for safe cruise planning, from harbour guides to soundings and current area reports.
Similarly on WATTENSCHIPPER.DEbut additionally with a interactive nautical chart. It is based on the "free nautical charts" and also contains everything that is important for sailing on the mudflats - including high-resolution satellite images, on which tidal flats can be easily recognised, and an overlay with the protected areas in the mudflats including navigation rules.
Ursula Meer
Redakteurin Panorama und Reise
