Westerland, Germany

Westerland Weesterlön / Vesterland
OrtsteilofGemeinde Sylt
Kurpromenade in 2003
Location of Westerland within the Nordfriesland district
Westerland Weesterlön / Vesterland Westerland Weesterlön / Vesterland
Coordinates:54°54′36″N8°18′27″E
Country	Germany
State	Schleswig-Holstein
District	Nordfriesland
Town	Gemeinde Sylt
Area
• Total	10.45 km2(4.03 sq mi)
Elevation	5 m (16 ft)
Population (2019-12-31)
• Total	12,500
• Density	1,200/km2(3,100/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00(CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00(CEST)
Postal codes	25969–25980
Dialling codes	04651
Vehicle registration	NF
Website	gemeinde-sylt.de

Westerland(German pronunciation:[ˈvɛstɐˌlant];Danish:Vesterland;Söl'ringNorth Frisian:Weesterlön’) is aseaside resortand a former municipality located on theGermanNorth Seaisland ofSylt.Since 1 January 2009, Westerland has been part of the municipalityGemeinde Sylt.Westerland is part of theNordfrieslanddistrict inSchleswig-Holstein.It is the largest resort on the island, the local transportation hub and the centre of Sylt's tourist industry.

History

Westerland is partly one of the younger settlements on the island ofSylt.After theAll Saints' Day Flood of 1436had destroyed the biggest part of the community ofEidum(except for the area that is today calledEnden and the Church), the survivors built a new community to the northeast on aheath.The new settlement was calledHedigen(heath area).

In the 16th. century most of the people on Sylt were involved in the hunting ofHerringnearHeligoland,Westerland was no exception.

The Old Church ofEidumSt. Niels was demolished in 1634, mainly due to a particularly bad stench, and rebuild in the heath area, far away from the sea, in 1636.

Westerlant(probably an old field name used by the people ofTinnum) had its first documentary mention in 1462. In 1636 there were 43 and in 1695 76 taxable houses.

The village grew rapidly during the 17th and 18th centuries because people experienced a great increase in wealth thanks towhaling.Previously, people had only lived from the sea and what little their fields could provide (they were often destroyed by the wandering dunes or flooding).

In 1855, the localLandvogtdecided to turn Westerland into a seaside resort. After 1857, the minor village centred on a church began to grow into a larger resort. That year the first hotel opened - theDünenhalle.Many others followed, although a number of them have since been torn down to make room for different structures. In 1880, the first solid building was erected on the dunes right at the beach. Electricity was available from 1893. In 1897, a telephone cable to the mainland was laid. In 1888, theKurhallewas inaugurated, followed in 1903 by theart nouveauhotelMiramar,which still stands on the promenade today.

In the 1890s, Westerland replacedKeitumas the preeminent town on Sylt, not just for tourists but also regarding infrastructure and facilities used by the locals. This was illustrated by the move, in 1892, of the island's onlypharmacyfrom Keitum to Westerland.

In 1908, a building for spa applications was built (Kurmittelhaus). The original airfield (nowSylt Airport) was constructed in 1912. Due to the military fortification of the island under the Nazis, the town's population increased from 4,000 in 1934 to 7,700 by 1940.

In 1948 came official recognition as a seasidespa town(Nordseeheilbad). The concrete highrises that today dominate the Westerland skyline (and are visible from many places on Sylt) were built in 1966-68 (Kurzentrum,Metropol). Another, even more gargantuan, development project namedAtlantiswas stopped in 1971 after protests by locals.

Geography

Westerland is located on the western shore of the island ofSylton the North Sea. It lies 70 km northwest ofHusum,74 km west ofFlensburg,134 km northwest ofKieland 186 km northwest ofHamburg.

Westerland used to beGermany's northernmost town. Only the smaller communities ofList,WenningstedtandKampen– none being incorporated towns – lie farther north in Germany. However, with the merger toGemeinde Syltin 2009 Westerland gave up its status asStadt(see Government).

Economy

Westerland's economy is strongly oriented towards the island'stourismindustry. Recently it had 2.5 million overnight stays annually in around 25,000 beds. There are roughly 1,300 tradespersons in town, accounting for an annual tax income of around €500 per inhabitant.

In the town's south end nearRantumis acampground.Westerland is the central hub for supply, retailing, and numerous services that provide for the inhabitants and visitors on the island of Sylt.

Thanks to its affluent, glamorous lifestyle and thriving tourism industry, Westerland, has been called the "Beverly Hills" of Germany.

Attractions

Westerland beach

Bandshell on the beach promenade

St. Nicolai church

Westerland beach in the southern direction

Railway Station of Westerland

The major attraction at Westerland is the beach and the 6-kilometre-long promenade with itsMusikmuschelmusic pavilion. During the season, 4,000Strandkörbeare placed on the beach.

Westerland today has 30 listed historic buildings and another 150 that are considered of special historic or architectural value. These include theKurhausfrom 1897, now housing the municipal administration and a casino.

Westerland features numerous sculptures, e.g. in the pedestrian zone such asWilhelmine(Wilhelmsstrasse) orSturmbläserandEuropaon the promenade. Near the train stationReisende Riesen im Wind(byMartin Wolke) was created in 2001. TheWesterländer Roland,which used to stand in front of the old town hall, was in storage from 1964 to 1993, but since then has stood in the centre of a roundabout.

Westerland has three churches:

• St. Niels,Protestant church, built in 1635-37.
• St. Nicolai (Westerland),Protestant church, consecrated in 1908.
• St. Christophorus,Roman Catholic church, built in 1997-99 to replace the previous structure dating from 1957. Prior to that, theHerz-Jesu-Kapelle(built in 1896) had stood in that location. Nearby is theHeimatstätte für Heimatlose,a small cemetery for victims of shipwrecks washed ashore between 1855 and 1905.

Sylter Wellewas opened in 1993 as a spa and wellness centre, with indoor pool and sauna.Sylt Aquariumis a smallaquariumin the south of Westerland.

Government

Main article:Sylt (municipality)

On 1 January 2009, Westerland became part of the new municipalityGemeinde Syltcreated by the merger of the town with the former municipalitiesRantumandSylt-Ost.The debate on this move had started in 2003 when a similar merger happened onFehmarn.However, local rivalries and desire for independence prevented progress for a time. It took the foundation of a citizens' movementBürger für Sylt als Einheitto advance the plan. In separate referendums in 2008, Westerland (by a large majority) and Sylt-Ost (narrowly) agreed to the merger in May 2008. Rantum followed, but List, Kampen, Wenningstedt-Braderup and Hörnum remained aloof. In September 2008 the merger contract was signed.

Although Westerland used to have the status ofStadt(city, awarded in 1905), the new municipality so far refrained from applying for this status. One reason is that theOrtsteiledo not want to advertise their tourism services as simple suburbs (Stadtteile).As a result of this change, the coat of arms of Westerland was cancelled.

Westerland is now anOrtsteilofGemeinde Sylt.Since 1 May 2015, the mayor ofGemeinde Sylthas been Nikolas Häckel.

Gemeinde Syltshares its administration in aVerwaltungsgemeinschaftwith theAmtLandschaft Sylt,located in the townhall of Westerland - the formerKurhaus,built in 1897.

Infrastructure

Transport

Inauguration of the new railway connecting Westerland with the mainland in 1927

Sylt, and thereby also Westerland, cannot be reached by road from the mainland. Instead, there is a shuttle train that carries cars, theSylt-Shuttle,that runs betweenNiebülland Westerland. The railway line, called theMarsh Railway(Marschbahn), runs across the 11.3 km-longHindenburgdamm,acausewayacross theWadden Seajoining Sylt to the mainland.Passenger trains,both local and long-distance, also serve Westerland, reaching it across the causeway. Westerland can also be reached by air throughSylt Airport,and bycar ferryfrom the nearbyDanishisland ofRømø.

Other

T-Systemsoperates theSender Westerland,a 90-metre radio mast located in the middle of the town.

Notable people

• Uwe Dallmeier(born 27 August 1923 in Dithmarschen; died 19 November 1985), actor, died here at his residence.
• Heinz Reinefarth,a formerSSBrigadeführer,who became mayor of Westerland in December 1951. Reinefarth was one of the officers who quelled theWarsaw Uprisingin 1944 on the orders ofHeinrich Himmler.Although Reinefarth's unit was responsible for the killing of thousands of civilians and the Polish authorities asked for his extradition, he was never charged with these atrocities. He died at Westerland in 1979.

Trivia

• A songby the GermanpunkbandDie Ärzteis named after Westerland.

External links

• Official website of the municipalityGemeinde Sylt
• Information for tourists