This week we have been in the coastal area of East Frisia. Earlier in the week the team visited the popular island of Norderney, which is accessible by car ferry. Today, my host, Robert Koesters, invites me to join him to visit with his team from work the island of Langeoog. This island, as all the other barrier islands, except Norderney, is accessed by ferry and no motorized vehicles are allowed on the island. The island is quiet and has 2000 year-round residents.
We stop off at Robert’s office to pick up two of his people. They all work for Oldenburgische Landsbank. Robert manages the fourteen bank branches in East Frisia. They are planning a social for all the area branch employees in June. We drive to the ferry terminal and meet third employee there.
During the day I have a chance to talk a little bit with Insa, the accounting manager, Nina, the marketing manager, and Carina, the human resources manager. They all get along very well and seem to enjoy the trip. Carina lives in a farm house over 300 years old and takes care of her stable with seven horses in her spare time. One horse is hers, the others belong to friends who keep them at Carina’s stable. We will meet the branch manager of the island office, Dieter, on the ferry.
Langeoog Village with Lighthouse in the Distance
Thatched Roof House on the Edge of Town
The ferry takes 45 minutes to reach Langeoog. Travel is very slow because of the low tide. When we reach the island, we transfer to a train that takes us to town, a short walk to the beach. There are several shops and restaurants in the town. We walk through, visit the branch office, and go up through the dunes, pass the lighthouse, and continue toward the beach.
No Motorized Vehicles Allowed, on Horses and Electric Utility Vehicles
Most of the island is protected and left natural. The dunes are very wide and long and protect the village behind it. We reach the beach. It is also very wide. The slope of the beach is very slow. It is low tide and there is also a huge sandbar out in the water. Most of the beach will be covered by the North Sea later in the day. There are over 100 of the covered beach chairs all over the beach. They add color to the beach. People are sunbathing and socializing. One can easily imagine how packed this area must be on a summer day. The population swells to 11,000 in high season.
The Robert's Team and I Stop for a Picture
The Beach Chairs are Comfortable and Protect from the Sun
The Dunes
We walk around. During our journey the team stops to discuss possible activities for the company gathering. We walk back toward town by a different route and they investigate rain day alternatives. On the way we visit a cemetery. We see the grave of Lale Andersen, who sang the famous World War II song ‘Lilli Marleen’. Dieter tells us that Russian WWII POW’s, who were allowed to stay on the island after hostilities ended, are buried here, too.
Gravesite of Lale Andersen, German Songstress
We continue and then eat lunch at a restaurant situated near the dunes. Later we reach the lighthouse and walk to a high point to see the panorama. We can see the town, the natural areas and mud flats that separate Langeoog from the rest of East Frisia. Wind turbines slowly churn in the distance. We finish up with a walk through town, then take the train and the ferry back to the mainland.
It is an enjoyable day as we see different sea birds, shells, dunes and man’s effort to keep the area unspoiled. I find out why the barrier islands of East Frisia are one of Germany's best kept secrets. Most of the tourists are German. In the summer there are a few Dutch and Brits. Today I was one of the few lucky Americans to ever visit this quiet, beautiful place. Vielen Dank, Robert & company!
Posted by Stephen
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