Happy TravellerWelcome to Husum, the charming capital of the Kreis Nordfriesland in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. This picturesque town is known as the birthplace of the novelist Theodor Storm, who coined the epithet ‘the grey town by the sea’. But there’s much more to Husum than just its literary heritage. Let’s explore the history, geography, culture, and infrastructure of this hidden gem.
== History ==
Husum has a rich history that dates back to 1252 when it was first mentioned as Husembro. Like most towns on the North Sea, Husum was always strongly influenced by storm tides. In 1362, a disastrous storm tide, the Grote Mandrenke, flooded the town and carved out the inland harbor. Before this date, Husum was not situated directly on the coast. The people of the city took advantage of this opportunity and built a marketplace, which led to a great economic upturn. Between 1372 and 1398, the population of Husum grew rapidly, and two villages, Oster-Husum (East-Husum) and Wester-Husum (West-Husum), were founded. The name Husum is first mentioned in 1409. It is shown on the Carta Marina in the Frisian form of Husem. Its first church was built in 1431. Wisby rights were granted it in 1582, and in 1603 it received municipal privileges from Alexander, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg. It suffered greatly from inundations in 1634 and 1717.
== Geography ==
Husum is located on the North Sea by the Bay of Husum; 82 km W of Kiel, 139 km NW of Hamburg, and 43 km SW of Flensburg. The town is divided into several subdivisions, including Zentrum, Nordhusum, Porrenkoog, Osterhusum, Altstadt, Norderschlag, Dreimühlen, Rödemis, Fischersiedlung, Neustadt, Gewerbegebiet Schauendahl, Kielsburg, Rosenburg, Schobüll, Halebüll, and Hockensbüll.
== Culture ==
Being a tourist resort and the gateway to the North Frisian Islands, Husum offers many cultural features. One of the most famous events is the international festival of rare piano music, Raritäten der Klaviermusik, which was founded in 1986 by Peter Froundjian and takes place in the town’s castle. Other cultural attractions include Theodor-Storm-Haus, the house of Theodor Storm, which is home to an exhibition about the novelist and his works, and the Schifffahrtsmuseum Nordfriesland, which shows ships from the Middle Ages to the present. The Ostenfelder Bauernhaus is an old farmhouse and the oldest open-air museum in Germany. Sights in Husum include Marienkirche, Husum, collapsed 1807, re-erected 1833, the Schloss vor Husum, 1582, which was a residence of the dukes of Holstein-Gottorp, the Old Town Hall, 1601, and the New Town Hall, 1988/1989. Husum is also home to several clubs, including the Spielmannszug & Jugendblasorchester Rödemis, a famous marching band from the district of Rödemis, and two football clubs, the Husumer SV and the Rödemisser SV. Husum Cricket Club is based at the Mikkelberg-Kunst-und-Cricket Center, which has in the past hosted international women’s cricket matches. The ground is located in nearby Hattstedt. Husum is twinned with several cities around the world.
== Infrastructure ==
Husum station is located on the Westerland–Hamburg line (Marsh Railway), the Husum–Bad St. Peter-Ording line to the Eiderstedt peninsula, and the Husum–Jübek line, which connects to the Neumünster–Flensburg line and Kiel. The town has several schools, including Hermann-Tast-Schule, a humanistic grammar school since 1527, one of the oldest schools in the state of Schleswig-Holstein, and the Iven-Agßen-Schule, since 1619, one of the oldest elementary schools in Germany. Husum also has several high schools, including Gemeinschaftsschule Husum-Nord, Ferdinand-Tönnies-Schule Husum, and Danske Skole (Danish School).
Husum is a hidden gem that offers a rich history, breathtaking landscapes, and mouthwatering local cuisine. Whether you’re interested in literature, music, or sports, there’s something for everyone in this charming town. Come and discover the many treasures of Husum for yourself!
