It is smaller than Schiermonnikoog, lacks the beautiful villages of Ameland and the tranquility of Vlieland, but Borkum, the German Wadden Island off the coast of Groningen, is more than worth a visit. In addition, Borkum is undoubtedly one of the most accessible Wadden Islands for many residents of the North and East of the Netherlands. At the end of the N33 highway is the Eemshaven, from where the German shipping company AG Ems sails to Borkum. The enormous parking lot contains not only Dutch cars, but also a large number of German ones, because for many Eastern neighbors the route via the Eemshaven is the fastest way to this Wadden Island. Contrary to what the gigantic parking lot suggests, it is possible to take your own car to the island. 50 minutes after departure (the catamaran takes half the time) the boat docks at the ferry port on the southeastern tip of Borkum, from where a pedestrian train departs to the town of Borkum. For those traveling with children, the combination of sailing and the train ride alone makes for a successful day.
The village
The train drops you off in the center of the town of Borkum. This village is unmistakably German with a relatively large number of high-rise buildings and the characteristic architectural style that you find in many German provincial towns. Nevertheless, there is a pleasant hustle and bustle in the main street and the streets leading to the beach. As you would expect from our Eastern neighbors, there is no shortage of dining options. On the west side of the village is the promenade, where the buildings are partly reminiscent of the fashionable seaside resort that Borkum was in the 19th century.
Nordbad
At the foot of the promenade is the largest beach, the Nordbad, an extremely deep sandy plain that overlooks the Groningen sandbanks and Rottumerplaat. The Nordbad is, together with the Südbad and the nudist beach, one of the three patrolled beaches on the island. Here are the colorful beach chairs (Strandzelte) that are so characteristic of this East Frisian Wadden Island and which can be rented for a few euros per day. You could spend the whole day here without any problems, but there are of course other options for the more active island guest. There are beach volleyball courts, you can surf, sail, kite and kite flyers will also get their money’s worth here. On the south side of the Nordbad is the Nordsee Kletterpark Borkum, where bathers can develop their climbing talent without fear of heights.
On the road across the island
For those who want to explore the island, there is a network of hiking and cycling trails, with a total length of 130 kilometers. Anyone who is used to the cycle paths on Schiermonnikoog or Ameland will occasionally have to pedal hard on Borkum, because the paths lead up and down the dunes. If you have not brought your own bicycle, you can find a rental bicycle anywhere in the village. Anyone who has come to the island on spec may be confronted with rental companies who no longer have bicycles during the high season, but anyone who contacts companies outside the center has a good chance of still getting a bicycle. The cycling and walking paths are well maintained and make the island easily accessible. Once you have cycled around the island, you can also see the island from another side: tours around the island are organized on the ship Wappen von Borkum.
Stay
Borkum is ideal for a day trip, but there are also plenty of options for a multi-day stay. As you would expect from a Wadden island, there are plenty of hotels and holiday homes, and campers can stay at two campsites. If you experience bad weather during your stay on this German Wadden island, you can visit the tidal pool, the North Sea aquarium at the Südbad, the Dykhus regional museum or on the Borkumriff fireship. In short, a short or long stay on the German island off the Dutch coast offers something for everyone!