Baltrum, Car-free coastal spa island in Lower Saxony, Germany.
Baltrum is a car-free island in the East Frisian chain off the Lower Saxon coast. It extends about five kilometers in length and one and a half kilometers in width, with beaches along the North Sea.
The Old Island Church, dating from 1826, was the first permanent structure on the island and houses the historic island bell. For centuries the island remained home to a small community living from fishing and farming.
Houses carry consecutive numbers instead of street names, a feature rooted in East Frisian island tradition. Visitors walking through the settlement navigate using this old counting system, still active in daily life.
Ferries from Neßmersiel run regularly throughout the year, with the crossing taking around thirty minutes. Since no cars are allowed, you move around on foot or by bicycle.
The entire island sits just about two meters above sea level, creating an unusually flat landscape within the Wadden Sea. During storm surges this low elevation becomes especially apparent as water floods large portions of the land.
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