Beach without sea: What makes Upleward on the North Sea so special
Have you ever heard of Upleward on the German North Sea coast? If not, the world's first dry beach opened there many years ago.
With a great infrastructure, play areas, and leisure activities, it's a beach paradise, but one thing is missing: the sea! Upleward lies several kilometers inland rather than directly on the Wadden Sea. But that doesn't make this exceptional beach any less popular. We'll tell you what to expect there.
Upleward is a village with 376 inhabitants in Lower Saxony —more precisely, in East Frisia, in the municipality of Krummhörn, about 15 kilometers northwest of Emden. It is located a good two kilometers from the North Sea and has boasted a unique tourist attraction since 2000: its unusual dry beach.
What was initially called an “East Frisian joke,” according to the official municipality website , is now a popular holiday destination, especially for families.
If you don't want to travel by car, Upleward is also easily accessible by train. For example, take the train to Emden and then take the bus towards Krummhörn, which also stops in Upleward. Alternatively, you can take the train to the north, from where buses also run to Upleward.
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The dry beach of Upleward lies behind the dike, covers approximately 9,000 square meters, and was extensively renovated in 2020. Since then, there have been great new attractions for young and old: For children, there is, among other things, a large pirate ship, water games, and various climbing and play equipment.
If you enjoy some exercise on vacation, you can look forward to a beach volleyball and beach soccer court at Upleward's dry beach. Although it's a dry beach, there are also opportunities to try out water sports. Those who want to can try kitesurfing around the dry beach. And the best part: Afterward, you can relax on the seating and lounge areas or in beach chairs. There's also an accessible wooden boardwalk that's even wheelchair accessible.
Food and drink are also available at the dry beach: At the Watt'n Blick kiosk, you can get snacks and drinks – and from there, you can also set off on guided mudflat hikes. If you prefer to travel on two wheels, the well-developed dike paths invite you to take relaxing bike rides. The region is also ideal for birdwatching.
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