South Beach, Beach promenade in Wilhelmshaven, Germany
Plage Sud, also known as the Südstrandpromenade, is a seafront promenade in Wilhelmshaven, on the German North Sea coast. It runs alongside a dike, with a sandy area, a lawn, a children's playground, and a row of hotels and restaurants close by.
The Südstrand was established in 1929 and has been a gathering point for the city ever since. The dike running alongside the promenade was reinforced over the decades to protect Wilhelmshaven from storm surges coming off the North Sea.
The promenade faces south, which is unusual for the German North Sea coast, giving it a sunnier feel than most beaches in the region. One of the food stands along the walkway calls itself the 'last sausage stand before Helgoland,' a small local joke that regular visitors tend to remember.
The promenade is open at all times and free to enter, making it easy to visit whenever you like. During the season, beach chairs and bicycles can be rented from the service building on site, so booking ahead is a good idea.
Although the promenade sits on the North Sea, the water here is not suited for swimming, which makes it different from what many visitors expect of a beach destination. The focus is on walking, sitting in rented beach chairs, and watching ships pass along the horizon.
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