# Kampen (Sylt) > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Kampen_(Sylt) > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Kampen_(Sylt).md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kampen_(Sylt) > Source revision: 1303714809 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) This article needs more citations. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Kampen" Sylt – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (April 2015) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Municipality in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany Kampen, Sylt Municipality View over Kampen from Uwedüne Flag Coat of arms Location of Kampen, Sylt within Nordfriesland district Location of Kampen, Sylt Kampen, Sylt Show map of Germany Kampen, Sylt Show map of Schleswig-Holstein Coordinates: 54°57′N 8°20′E / 54.950°N 8.333°E / 54.950; 8.333 Country Germany State Schleswig-Holstein District Nordfriesland Municipal assoc. Landschaft Sylt Government • Mayor Stefanie Böhm Area • Total 8.43 km2 (3.25 sq mi) Elevation 1 m (3.3 ft) Population (2024-12-31)[1] • Total 492 • Density 58.4/km2 (151/sq mi) Time zone UTC+01:00 (CET) • Summer (DST) UTC+02:00 (CEST) Postal codes 25998–25999 Dialling codes 0 46 51 Vehicle registration NF Website www.kampen.de **Kampen** (German pronunciation: [\[ˈkampn̩\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/Standard_German) [ⓘ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:De-Kampen.ogg); officially **Kampen (Sylt)**; [Söl'ring Frisian](/source/Sylt_North_Frisian): Kaamp; [Danish](/source/Danish_language): *Kampen*) is a municipality and seaside resort on the island [Sylt](/source/Sylt), in the district of [Nordfriesland](/source/Nordfriesland), in [Schleswig-Holstein](/source/Schleswig-Holstein), [Germany](/source/Germany). It is located north of the island's main town, [Westerland](/source/Westerland%2C_Germany). The municipality is part of the *[Amt](/source/Amt_(country_subdivision))* *[Landschaft Sylt](/source/Landschaft_Sylt)*. The local economy is dominated by tourism. ## Etymology The name *Kaamp* means "a marked out field".[2]: 184 ## History This section needs more citations. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Kampen" Sylt – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (August 2022) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Kampen in 1894 as seen from atop the [Kampen Lighthouse](/source/Kampen_Lighthouse) The first mention of Kampen occurs in a tax registry from 1543. The village is considered to have been founded quite late, possibly as a result of people moving there from an earlier settlement destroyed by a storm.[3] In 1767, the local *Landvogt* and some inhabitants bought land to the north of the village and established the *Kampener Vogelkoje*, a [decoy](/source/Decoy). This was profitable over the next four decades and through 1921 yielded a total of 695,957 killed ducks.[3] In 1803, Kampen consisted of 23 houses and 93 inhabitants (40 men and 53 women, of which 23 were seafarers). In 1853, King [Frederick VII of Denmark](/source/Frederick_VII_of_Denmark) ordered the construction of the [Kampen Lighthouse](/source/Kampen_Lighthouse). In 1860, the number of houses had fallen to 22 and there were still 93 inhabitants, however, just three of them were seafarers. In 1864, Kampen became [Prussian](/source/Prussia).[3] For centuries, until around 1900, Kampen was a rural village shaped by [agriculture](/source/Agriculture). Shipping and fishing as well as other industries and crafts played a relatively smaller role in the village's development. Together with [Wenningstedt](/source/Wenningstedt-Braderup), the village of Kampen constituted part of the so-called "Northern Villages" (*Norddörfer*) of Sylt. The church and school were shared due to the low number of citizens in the respective villages – so they could only be supported through a common effort. Kampen, a quiet hamlet situated in a [heath](/source/Heath_(habitat)), was discovered by tourists quite late. Until the beginning of the 20th century the place was merely regarded an insider's tip among travellers. Only in the 1920s did Kampen's reputation as a [seaside resort](/source/Seaside_resort) begin to develop. An ordinance from 1912, which is still effective today, requires that all houses in the village be built in the traditional style, i.e. brick buildings with [thatched roofs](/source/Thatched_roof). In July 1903, Kampen was linked by the *Sylter Nordbahn* to Westerland. In 1908, this was extended north to List. In 1908, the *Nordseebad Kampen auf Sylt GmbH* (founded in 1904) built a large two-storied octagonal wooden pavilion on the northern heath, around 400 metres from the *Kurhaus* (it was demolished in 1922). Even earlier, in 1906, a development plan had called for covering all of the northwestern heath with new construction.[3][4] After [World War I](/source/World_War_I), the *Verein Naturschutz Insel Sylt e. V.* was founded. *Haus Kliffende* to the north of the village became a cultural and artists' meeting place in the 1920s and 1930s. In 1921, locals established the *Verkehrsverein Kampen/Sylt e. V.* to boost tourism.[3] *Haus Kliffende*. Beginning in 1921, writer [Thomas Mann](/source/Thomas_Mann) was a guest of [Siegfried Jacobsohn](/source/Siegfried_Jacobsohn) and later often stayed at *Haus Kliffende*, north of the village. Many other intellectuals, musicians, writers and other artists flocked to the area. These included [Max Frisch](/source/Max_Frisch), [Emil Nolde](/source/Emil_Nolde), [Carl Zuckmayer](/source/Carl_Zuckmayer), [Heinrich Vogeler](/source/Heinrich_Vogeler) and [Lovis Corinth](/source/Lovis_Corinth).[5]: 45 In 1923, there were 1,213 visitors to Kampen.[4] [Ferdinand Avenarius](/source/Ferdinand_Avenarius) is considered as the first popularizer of Sylt. Today, a park is named after him.[6] Kampen became a separate municipality on 21 March 1927, when the *Norddörfer* association was dissolved by the Prussian authorities, creating the *Landgemeinde Kampen*.[3] In 1938, there were 25,0000 visitors and more than 500 *Ehrenkurgäste*.[3] Prior to – and during – [World War II](/source/World_War_II) camps to accommodate troops were established in Kampen by the [Wehrmacht](/source/Wehrmacht). A major camp was located near today's public camping site in the southwestern part of the village. It had been built due to the expansion of the air field in [Braderup](/source/Braderup). There was, however, no direct combat action, nor did Kampen suffer any remarkable damage from the allied bombings. East of the village there was an [anti-aircraft](/source/Anti-aircraft_warfare) site with many [bunkers](/source/Bunker) and shelters. In the immediate post-war years, Kampen had 370 inhabitants and they were joined by 1,927 refugees from Germany's former eastern territories housed in the former military installations. In the 1950s, the *Café Kupferkanne* was established inside the anti-aircraft facility. The *Lager Skagerak* became a youth hostel.[4] After World War II the village became a venue of the "rich and famous" – the tycoons of the *[Wirtschaftswunder](/source/Wirtschaftswunder)*. Also many celebrities of cinema and television thought Kampen to be fashionable. [Gunter Sachs](/source/Gunter_Sachs) was one of those the public associated with the village.[4] In the 1960s there was a considerable boost in the [naturist movement](/source/Freik%C3%B6rperkultur). Especially the nude beach at *Buhne 16* in Kampen gained popularity by frequent media reports. TV productions such as *[Tatort](/source/Tatort): [Strandgut](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Strandgut_(Tatort)&action=edit&redlink=1) [[de](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tatort:_Strandgut)]* (1972) were set in Kampen. In 1971, Kampen had been assigned the title *Nordseebad*.[4] The boom slowed down in the 1980s. Today Kampen remains an upscale tourist resort. ### Village development From the 1920s on, the summer residences and [villas](/source/Villa) of mostly wealthy guests were constructed on the *Nordheide* around the old village core. Thus the area of Kampen multiplied within a few years. Despite early plannings from the 1920s, the western heath of Kampen was not covered with buildings though and today is a [nature reserve](/source/Nature_reserve). ## Geography Kampen beach with *Rotes Kliff*. Kampen lies on the *[Geest](/source/Geest)* at a height of around 27 metres above [NHN](/source/Normalh%C3%B6hennull).[2]: 184 The so-called *Rotes Kliff* (red cliff) west of the village rises up to 30 metres from the North Sea and is highly endangered by erosion and [storm surges](/source/Storm_surge). The *Uwe Düne* ([dune](/source/Dune)) reaches a height of 52.5 m above sea level, making it the island's highest point.[5]: 47 It is named after [Uwe Jens Lornsen](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Uwe_Jens_Lornsen&action=edit&redlink=1) [[de](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uwe_Jens_Lornsen)] (1793–1838), a freedom fighter for a united [Schleswig-Holstein](/source/Schleswig-Holstein_Question) who hailed from Keitum. East of Kampen the [Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park](/source/Wadden_Sea_National_Parks) extends, in summer the municipality offers guided [mudflat hiking](/source/Mudflat_hiking) trips there. ## Economy Like all municipalities on Sylt, Kampen is highly specialised on the tourism business, so that an economical monostructure can be found there. The annual number of visitors is currently around 35,000.[4] ## Attractions The *Kampener Vogelkoje* is located roughly three kilometres north of Kampen. Nowadays this is a [nature reserve](/source/Nature_reserve) of 10 hectares for numerous species of water fowl.[5]: 47 There are numerous studios and artists' galleries in Kampen. On the western heath several [neolithic](/source/Neolithicum) [dolmens](/source/Dolmen) are located. As they are not marked, they are relatively untouched by tourism. The ancient [circular rampart](/source/Circular_rampart) of Kampen also remains largely unnoticed.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] ## Government The current *Bürgermeisterin* (mayor) is Stefanie Böhm.[7] ### Arms [Blazon](/source/Blazon): Azure a [sea holly](/source/Eryngium_maritimum) argent.[8] The municipal flag depicts the sea holly in a blue [canton](/source/Flag_terminology) on an otherwise [fessed](/source/Flag_terminology) flag of blue and white. ### Town twinning Since 2002 Kampen has been [twinned](/source/Town_twinning) with [Lech am Arlberg](/source/Lech_am_Arlberg) in [Austria](/source/Austria). A retired cabin from a [gondola lift](/source/Gondola_lift) was given to Kampen as a gift by the well-known alpine ski resort, which is now displayed on Kampen's main beach. In return Lech received a thatched bus stop shelter. ## Religion This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Kampen" Sylt – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (August 2022) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Kampen does not have a church of its own. For a long time the mostly Protestant citizens had to attend church services at [St. Severinus](/source/St._Severin%2C_Keitum)' church in [Keitum](/source/Keitum), seven kilometres away. In 1914, the "Frisian Chapel" was built in the neighbouring village of Wenningstedt, whose *Norddörfer* Parish also includes Kampen. During the summer months outdoors church services are held at various locations. ## Infrastructure ### Transport The municipality is crossed by the state road L24 which runs north–south all along the island. In addition to individual traffic, bus route No. 1 of the *Sylter Verkehrsgesellschaft* provides public transport.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] The [Kampen Lighthouse](/source/Kampen_Lighthouse) situated on the higher [geestland](/source/Geest) core south of the village. It is the oldest lighthouse on the island,[5]: 47 standing 40 metres tall with a black and white marking. Another, smaller lighthouse, the [Rotes Kliff Lighthouse](/source/Rotes_Kliff_Lighthouse), is located north of Kampen on the red cliff. It served as a supplement to the main light from 1913 to 1975.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] ## Education Together with Wenningstedt, Kampen operates the *Norddörfer Schule*, an elementary school located south of the village proper. There is also a kindergarten in the village. ## Literature [Ingo Kühl](/source/Ingo_K%C3%BChl) – *Haus am Watt VIII* 2015, oil on canvas 150 × 200 cm - Wolfgang Mielke, ed. (2009), "Sylt", *Perinique* (in German), no. 8, Hamburg: Perinique, [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [1869-9952](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1869-9952) 48-seitiges Themenheft mit Schwerpunkt Kampen (1952–1959) - Rolf Spreckelsen: *Nordseebad Kampen auf Sylt. Die Geschichte des Bades.* Hans Christians Verlag, Hamburg 1978, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [3-7672-0568-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/3-7672-0568-8). - Rolf Spreckelsen, Manfred Wedemeyer among others: *450 Jahre Kampen.* Edited by Gemeinde Nordseebad Kampen, Sylt 1994 - Rolf Spreckelsen: *Kampen – Sylt: der Flirt fürs ganze Leben ; die Geschichte eines Dorfes.* Christians Verlag, Hamburg 1996, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [3-7672-1253-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/3-7672-1253-6). - [Ingo Kühl](/source/Ingo_K%C3%BChl): *Das Haus am Watt – Kampener Skizzen*, Verlag Kettler, Dortmund 2015, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-3-86206-473-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-3-86206-473-1). - Ingo Kühl: *Das Haus am Watt* (Picture book large format 42 × 30 cm), Edition Schöne Bücher, Verlag Kettler, Dortmund 2015, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-3-86206-484-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-3-86206-484-7). ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Bevölkerung der Gemeinden in Schleswig-Holstein 4. Quartal 2024"](https://www.statistik-nord.de/fileadmin/Dokumente/A_I_2_vj_24-4_Zensus22_SH.xlsx) (XLS) (in German). [Statistisches Amt für Hamburg und Schleswig-Holstein](/source/Statistisches_Amt_f%C3%BCr_Hamburg_und_Schleswig-Holstein). 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Lex_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Lex_2-1) Kunz, Harry; Steensen, Thomas (2014). *Taschenlexikon Sylt (German)*. Wachholtz. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-3-529-05525-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-3-529-05525-6). 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Landschaft_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Landschaft_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Landschaft_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Landschaft_3-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Landschaft_3-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-Landschaft_3-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-Landschaft_3-6) ["Die Gemeinde Kampen (Sylt) (German)"](http://www.amtlandschaftsylt.de/kampen.html). Amt Landschaft Sylt. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20150401041836/http://www.amtlandschaftsylt.de/kampen.html) from the original on 1 April 2015. Retrieved 8 April 2015. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-kampen1_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-kampen1_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-kampen1_4-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-kampen1_4-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-kampen1_4-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-kampen1_4-5) ["Kampener Geschichte (German)"](http://www.kampen.de/Natur-Tradition/Geschichte/Kampener-Geschichte). Kampen municipality. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20150414185759/http://www.kampen.de/Natur-Tradition/Geschichte/Kampener-Geschichte) from the original on 14 April 2015. Retrieved 8 April 2015. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Merian_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Merian_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Merian_5-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Merian_5-3) Andersen, Christa Maria (2006). *Merian Sylt (German)*. Travel House Media GmbH. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-3-8342-0021-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-3-8342-0021-1). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-kampen2_6-0)** ["Avenarius-Park (German)"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150414184306/http://www.kampen.de/Natur-Tradition/Avenarius-Park). Kampen municipality. Archived from [the original](http://www.kampen.de/Natur-Tradition/Avenarius-Park) on 14 April 2015. Retrieved 8 April 2015. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Landschaft2_7-0)** ["Ansprechpartner Gemeinde Kampen (Sylt) (German)"](http://www.amtlandschaftsylt.de/kampen/ansprechpartner.html). Amt Landschaft Sylt. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20150401041841/http://www.amtlandschaftsylt.de/kampen/ansprechpartner.html) from the original on 1 April 2015. Retrieved 8 April 2015. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** [Schleswig-Holstein Municipal Roll of Arms](http://efi2.schleswig-holstein.de/wr/wr.asp?Aktion=Datenblatt&Aufrufer=Treffer&Treffer=2&iTreffer=2&ID=390) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180120065712/http://efi2.schleswig-holstein.de/wr/wr.asp?Aktion=Datenblatt&Aufrufer=Treffer&Treffer=2&iTreffer=2&ID=390) 20 January 2018 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)(in German) ## External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Kampen (Sylt)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Kampen_(Sylt)). - [Official website](https://www.gemeinde-kampen.de/) (in German) - [Amt Landschaft Sylt](http://www.amtlandschaftsylt.de/) v t e Towns and municipalities in Nordfriesland Achtrup Ahrenshöft Ahrenviöl Ahrenviölfeld Alkersum Almdorf Arlewatt Aventoft Bargum Behrendorf Bohmstedt Bondelum Bordelum Borgsum Bosbüll Braderup Bramstedtlund Bredstedt Breklum Dagebüll Drage Drelsdorf Dunsum Elisabeth-Sophien-Koog Ellhöft Emmelsbüll-Horsbüll Enge-Sande Fresendelf Friedrich-Wilhelm-Lübke-Koog Friedrichstadt Galmsbüll Garding Goldebek Goldelund Gröde Grothusenkoog Haselund Hattstedt Hattstedtermarsch Högel Holm Hooge Hörnum Horstedt Hude Humptrup Husum Immenstedt Joldelund Kampen Karlum Katharinenheerd Kirchspiel Garding Klanxbüll Klixbüll Koldenbüttel Kolkerheide Kotzenbüll Ladelund Langeneß Langenhorn Leck Lexgaard List Löwenstedt Lütjenholm Midlum Mildstedt Nebel Neukirchen Nieblum Niebüll Norddorf Norderfriedrichskoog Nordstrand Norstedt Ockholm Oevenum Oldenswort Oldersbek Olderup Oldsum Ostenfeld Oster-Ohrstedt Osterhever Pellworm Poppenbüll Ramstedt Rantrum Reußenköge Risum-Lindholm Rodenäs Sankt Peter-Ording Schwabstedt Schwesing Seeth Simonsberg Sollwitt Sönnebüll Sprakebüll Stadum Stedesand Struckum Süderende Süderhöft Süderlügum Südermarsch Sylt Tating Tetenbüll Tinningstedt Tönning Tümlauer-Koog Uelvesbüll Uphusum Utersum Viöl Vollerwiek Vollstedt Welt Wenningstedt-Braderup Wester-Ohrstedt Westerhever Westre Winnert Wisch Witsum Wittbek Wittdün Witzwort Wobbenbüll Wrixum Wyk auf Föhr Coat of arms Authority control databases International VIAF GND National United States Czech Republic Israel Geographic MusicBrainz area Other Yale LUX --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Kampen (Sylt)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kampen_(Sylt)) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kampen_(Sylt)?action=history)). 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