Büsum

Büsum is shrimp-fishing capital and family resort on the Dithmarschen coast. The harbour was a fishing port for centuries; today it hosts cutters, pleasure craft, and the Halunder Jet to Helgoland. The Wadden Sea begins right at the beach — the mudflat tours from Büsum are the most accessible in all of Schleswig-Holstein. Highlights: the Familienlagune Perlebucht (a sandy beach with a sheltered saltwater lagoon, safe for children), the Sturmflutwelt storm-surge museum, the harbour fish market on Fridays, shrimp sales direct from the cutter, and the "Watt'n Hus" Wadden Sea national-park visitor centre. Büsum is on the rail line from Heide and reachable from Hamburg in 2.5 hours.