So much sand to play with – but does Borkum have even more to offer? After all, the island is considered the largest sandpit on the East Frisian North Sea coast. 26 kilometers full of sand want to be conquered. And you can also find the right answer to these following questions in Borkum: Where can you see North Sea fish up close? Where do you go on board a lightship? How tall is the lighthouse? How do I get to the seals? Where can I surf – even if it rains? No problem at all – Borkum won’t let the young guests and their parents down.

Animation on the beach and in the play island, high up in the climbing park and playful exploration of the island

Digging, building sandcastles, and searching for shells in the surf. A wonderful family day out can be spent on the beach, between the beach tents and bathing carts so typical of Borkum, and the beach chairs. But the island offers something extra: beach entertainment. Every day, the battle cry "Theo is fit!" rings out, and a sporty animation team ensures fun on the beach: there are water games, rallies, Viking battles, and sand sculpture competitions. Of course, the entertainment is free. You can find the current program and start times on borkum.de and on the posters at the beaches. Should it rain briefly, the fun moves to the newly renovated play island. There, you can do crafts, build things, or solve puzzles. There's a ball pit and tables for table tennis, a slide, a Bobby Car ramp, a cinema, and even play areas for babies. A gaming room for teenagers, painting classes, a ceramics workshop, and much more round out the fun at the play island. The play island is right next to the cultural island for adult vacationers. For a real thrill, head to the island's North Sea climbing park . Various difficulty levels and platforms offer incredible views of the North Sea and the island from above.

If you don't want to explore Borkum from above, you can also set off on foot or by bike. The tourist information office has specially created rallies with which you can find out everything you need to know about the history and present of the largest East Frisian island. The ideal prerequisite for becoming a true Borkum fan.

Dive into Nordsee Aquarium

So that parents and children don't just encounter a plaice, a herring or a schillerlocke in the restaurant, a visit to the Nordsee AquariumIt's a must in Borkum. It's not just the youngsters who won't regret finally being able to see the inhabitants of the North Sea up close. A total of 16 pools with different themes await visitors in the colorful water world located on the southern promenade. Maria and Ihno Oetjen lovingly and successfully look after their underwater pets.

Cat sharks, sea dahlias, whelks and jellyfish are also included, as are mussels and starfish. Unfortunately, there are no mermaids here – in case the children ask. In total there are over 200 different North Sea inhabitants to see. With lots of special promotions Nordsee Aquarium There is always something to offer, even apart from the popular guided tours. Animal releases, research activities and readings round off the underwater program. The “Nümigs” craft sheets are available free of charge to take with you at home and/or in bad weather. Five underwater inhabitants of the North Sea plus ten typical East Frisian animals can be lovingly crafted. Then gurnards, crabs, etc. come to play and watch in the children's room at home. The bows are in Nordsee Aquarium and available at the tourist information office.

A whale skeleton, a lightship, trains and playgrounds

There are things that are only available on Borkum. For example the dike house. You can rarely convince your children to visit a museum. And if it is supposed to be a local history museum, there is often a threat of strikes in the children's room. A visit to the Dykhus ("Dike House") on Borkum will also delight young people - because, among other things, the approximately 15 meter long skeleton of a sperm whale that was found on a North Sea beach over twenty years ago hangs here. In the event of a bad weather day, a visit to the Dykhus is an interesting family program. The weather should be nice when you board the lightship. The national park lightship “Borkumriff” is moored at the new harbor and can be visited and viewed. On board there is all information about the Lower Saxony Wadden Sea National Park, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the history of the ship, which was once a floating lighthouse for ocean shipping. Only on Borkum can you see such a ship that is still sailable. Of course, a holiday on Borkum also includes a visit to the seal bank in front of the north beach. It is forbidden to enter the seal bank, but depending on the tide, you can easily observe the cute island residents from the beach and the groynes.
You can learn a lot about Borkum's past and present on a comfortable and fun carriage ride. If you can't get to the island by car, you can take the Borkum small train to the center from the ferry pier. That alone is an experience. Railway fans can also regularly look forward to steam days. Then the lavishly restored steam locomotive “Borkum”, built in 1940, pulls historic wagons across the island on the oldest and only continuous double-track narrow-gauge railway in Germany. The island railway is a popular attraction, especially with younger guests - right in the middle of the island village. After so many adventures you need a healthy refreshment. They are available in the milk stalls. These stalls, which are only available on Borkum, have been offering drinks and snacks on the beach for 100 years - with a view over the beach and the North Sea. And while the parents enjoy cocktails, rice pudding or other delicacies, the children can use the adjacent playgrounds and trampolines at the north and south pools. The fun is inevitable!

A jungle, wild animals and a singing mudflat guide

Family holidays on Borkum can also be a holiday of discovery and adventure. Get out of the beach tent, leave your smartphone at home, and head out into nature. There are over 5.000 animal and plant species on Borkum, which you can discover on hikes and bike tours through untouched salt marshes and in enchanted forests - on over 130 kilometers of developed paths. The “Greune Stee” grove was only planted around 100 years ago and has developed so originally that the people of Borkum call it the “jungle”. There are also wild animals - although smaller specimens such as snails and over 100 species of birds. You can build a personal relationship with the Heidschnucken, which graze in the salt marshes and on the dikes, during a break on a hiking or cycling tour. The only way to get to the mudflats is on foot. But sometimes with musical accompaniment. Because the singing mudflat guide Albertus Akkermann not only seems to personally know every mussel and every lugworm in the mud, but he also accompanies himself on the accordion. At the same time, you can find out everything you need to know about the around 10.000 animal and plant species whose home is the wavy mudflats of the North Sea. You have never experienced the Lower Saxony Wadden Sea National Park like this before. Typically Borkum.

Lighthouses – the best view of the entire island

Borkum is also called the island of towers, it has five to offer: the Old Lighthouse, the New Lighthouse, the Electric Lighthouse, the Düne cross-mark light and the Fischerbalje entrance light. Here too, Borkum is unique. The New Lighthouse, which is already 140 years old, offers the best view of the island at a height of 60,3 meters. Maybe the parents should tell you at the top that there are 308 steps to the view. The little lighthouse conquerors will receive the appropriate lighthouse diploma after the descent. You cannot climb the electric lighthouse and it is also out of operation. However, it looks like it was taken from a picture book and is the perfect backdrop for a family photo.

And there is another historic tower - the 1900 meter high water tower, built in 23. The “Watertoorn” no longer supplies the people of Borkum with fresh drinking water. Every Thursday there are interesting tours on the topic of water supply on the island and the opening of the new water museum is planned for this year.

Football camps with Bundesliga teams

Whether on the beach or on natural grass, at a football camp run by renowned football schools, or a casual kickabout in the park – football on Borkum means fresh air and fun with the beautiful game. For several years now, a fantastic football program for younger visitors has also been established. With the "Football Factory" run by former professional Ingo Anderbrügge , the football school of Hannover 96 , and most recently, 1. FC Köln , every football-mad child will find plenty of time to play. Check our event calendars regularly , visit the TuS Borkum website, or check the websites of the aforementioned schools/clubs, and nothing should stand in the way of a fun-filled and sporty stay.

Playing with the wind

A fresh westerly wind usually prevails on Borkum. It brings the invigorating sea air to the island, which is beneficial for many asthmatics and allergy sufferers. However, it's not just healthy, but also essential for plenty of fun. Flying kites, both small and large, is an integral part of a successful North Sea holiday. And there are so many more ways to play with the wind on Borkum. Surfing and kitesurfing are, of course, among the activities. With onshore winds, depending on the wind strength, waves as high as masts can break on the offshore sandbanks. On selected stretches of beach, far from nature reserves, kite landboarding, land sailing, kite buggying, and power kiting are also offered. Sun, sand, and plenty of wind make a family holiday on Borkum a fast-paced sporting experience. Our two water and beach sports schools, "Öy" and "World of Wind," offer courses for young and old.

The Gezeitenland – Indoor surfing and thalasso relaxation

Behind the imaginative architecture of an ocean liner lies an 8.000 square meter wellness and adventure realm - this Gezeitenland ~ Water and wellness. First of all, this is Gezeitenland a seawater swimming pool. Several swimming pools, including a 25 meter long sports pool, provide variety. Different water depths make swimming possible for visitors of all ages. Separate areas are available for children and non-swimmers. But there is more. Children and young people can let off steam on a 75 meter long giant slide. The FlowRider offers additional fun: this is the name of the only indoor surfing facility in Lower Saxony. It offers safe and secure surfing with a padded surf pool. Here every visitor can Gezeitenlandshow off your skills and try out new things.

Events to watch and take part in

In addition to the many facilities and play options that are available to children all year round, Nordseeheilbad Borkum GmbH also regularly puts on a colorful program of events. Whether magicians, circus, musicians or theater ensembles, children's laughter is guaranteed. Just pay attention to the event calendar on borkum.de or take a look at the “MeinBorkum” web app after entering “willkommen.borkum.de” into your browser.