List is the northernmost municipality in Germany and is therefore situated in the north of the island of Sylt. It is a paradise in the middle of a fantastically beautiful dune landscape. About 1,700 people live in List. Of course, during the summer months, the number of inhabitants multiplies considerably, as List is one of the most popular places on the island. A breathtaking landscape with heaths, marshes, rolling dunes and of course a delightful beach. You can visit Sylt to just relax, with a not too high budget, or for a vacation with lots of luxury.
History
It was not until 1866 that the area in which List is located, which consists almost entirely of dunes, became German. Before that, List was a Danish settlement. It was first mentioned in 1292 (Lystum). The original village was destroyed by the great flood of 1364. The settlement was rebuilt further east of the previous site. In the middle of the 15th century, a church named St. Jürgen was mentioned. In a treaty of 1460, Schleswig and Holstein were attached to the Danish crown, but List remained part of the royal enclaves, small areas of the Kingdom of Denmark situated within the Duchy of Schleswig, but directly controlled by the Danish king.
After the Danish-German War of 1864, List became part of Prussia. In 1908, List had 13 houses and 70 inhabitants.
The 1920 plebiscite drew the border north of List, with the next island (Rømø) being returned to Denmark. Rømø is so close that we can see it from List.
Ellenbogen
The Ellenbogen (elbow) of the island, is so wide and untouched that one loses the sense of time and space. No restaurants and no crowds of people disturb the solitude of this magical corner of beach. The only inhabitants are sheep, seals and birds.
Incidentally, swimming here is forbidden, as this is where the Wadden Sea and the open sea meet and create dangerous deep currents. The five-kilometre road to Ellenbogenspitze is privately owned, so a toll of 6 euros per car must be paid. On foot or by bicycle, the route is much more pleasant and free. I went once on foot and once by bicycle.
Me trying to become Zipfelstürmer!
There it is! I have arrived at the northernmost point of Germany!
List is connected with the communities of Selfkant, Görlitz and Oberstdorf, because they are the four outermost places in Germany. Together, these places form the Zipfelbund. I have already visited 2. That is, I am half way there!
The Beach
The beaches are long and sandy, and even in high season, they are relatively quiet and very relaxing. Divided into nudist areas, recreation areas, places where you can swim, others that are forbidden, beaches for dogs, in short, everyone ends up finding the right piece of beach in List.
The harbour
With several Scandinavian-style restaurants, you have many options for where to stop and watch the ships come and go.
In addition, there are always events taking place in the harbour, as well as small stores, and the market for shopping.
From the harbor you can join the Adler ship excursions to the Wadden Sea or take the ferry Sylt for a trip to the Danish island of Rømø.
The harbour is accessible to you at any time of the day. You will find plenty of parking spaces in front of the Erlebniszentrum Naturgewalten.
The harbour of List, is the place where most tourists go to spend the late afternoon, early evening.
top tip
Even during the summer the temperatures can drop. It is also often very windy on the island, so be sure to pack a sweater.
We know that travelling by train is the most environmentally friendly way to reach the island with the lowest CO2 emissions. However, the Hamburg – Sylt railway line is still served by diesel locomotives, as the line is only electrified between Hamburg and Itzehoe. According to Deutsche Bahn, electrification of the Hindenburg Dam is not possible due, among other things, to double-decker wagon traffic.
One cannot generalize about environmental friendliness when travelling by car. Of course, it depends on which model of car is driven and, above all, how many passengers are in the car. With four people, for example, the CO2 figures are close to those for train travel.
The ferry Sylt shuttles between the Danish island of Rømø and List on Sylt. In November 2019, a second Sylt ferry came into use, which in addition to a diesel unit also uses an environmentally friendly LNG engine. In addition, free electronic charging stations for electric cars are installed onboard.
A lot is happening in Sylt with regard to sustainability and environmental and climate protection. In fact, a lot has changed recently with the awareness of residents and guests. This is demonstrated by the joint actions, from the regularly held Beach Clean Ups to the well-attended exhibitions and lectures on the subject. This is proven by the committed initiatives of the Bye Bye Plastik Sylt movement, the Gründenker or the Plastik crew of the Sylt School Center, as well as the island’s nature conservation associations, which have been active for years. It is not a matter of doing everything perfectly around the environment and organizing daily life without mistakes, but rather of reconsidering one’s own routines and adapting accordingly. It is also noticeable that people are increasingly talking about their own consumption and the behaviour associated with it. Because communication and the exchange of experiences lead to more sustainability.
The important thing is to inspire the island’s frequenters that everyone can make their time there as eco-friendly as possible.
