As of: January 19, 2024, 4:56 p.m
By: Franziska Kaindl
Comments
Press
Split
Building sandcastles is one of children's favorite activities on beaches.
However, in some places on the North and Baltic Seas there may be a fine for this.
Who would have thought?
On some stretches of beach in the North and Baltic Seas, visitors face hefty fines if they dig in the sand and build castles.
One of the most expensive places is on the island of Sylt: tower builders have to pay up to 1,000 euros if they are caught digging up the sand.
On Sylt there is a fine of up to 1,000 euros for building sandcastles
The ban is even in the statutes of the municipality of Sylt “on the restriction of public use on the sea beach”.
Paragraph 5 states that someone is acting unlawfully if they “build sandcastles or dig holes in the beach area”.
Children and families especially love building sandcastles on the beach.
But it's not allowed everywhere.
© Frank Sorge/Imago
At first glance, a fine of up to 1,000 euros for a violation may seem very high, but there are good reasons for the ban.
The community wants to protect the beach on its coast.
By building sandcastles or digging holes, the ground is loosened up considerably - which, during floods or strong winds, results in large amounts of sand being carried away into the sea.
The tourism company is responsible for the controls on the beach, as the mayor of the Sylt community, Nikolas Häckel, told the
travel reporter
portal .
However, in recent years there have been no fines for building sandcastles.
Building sandcastles: Where you have to pay attention to the rules on the North Sea
The North Sea island of Sylt is not alone with its restrictions.
Some places on the Baltic Sea have also decided to put limits on building sand castles.
However, it is not completely forbidden, just has a few rules.
According to beach regulations, the Baltic Sea resort of Binz on Rügen stipulates that a sand castle may not be built higher than 30 centimeters and its top diameter should not be larger than two meters.
Furthermore, no solid components such as driftwood, stones or boards may be used.
A distance of two meters must be maintained from the dunes.
However, digging tunnels and holes is completely prohibited.
My news
Exaggerated or justified?
Woman complains about the “really bad” condition of her holiday apartment
Cruise junkie reveals: Five cost traps that you can avoid on board
Fancy a day trip?
Ten picturesque villages in Germany read
Tobogganing only with a helmet - especially during your winter vacation
Vacation without crowds of tourists: Five travel destinations for 2024 that are still insider tips
Many travel destinations are above average expensive in the summer of 2024 - where there are still cheap holiday homes read
You don't want to miss any news and tips about vacation and travel?
Then sign up for the travel newsletter from our partner Merkur.de.
The Baltic Sea resort of Zinnowitz on Usedom has a similar approach: According to beach and bathing regulations, anyone who wants to build a sandcastle must stay at least three meters away from the sea-side dune base.
Only the sand and stones that are on the beach may be used.
Digging deep holes is completely forbidden.