Alter Hafen Hooksiel

Alter Hafen in Hooksiel is a small, historic marina right in the centre of the village of Hooksiel in the Wangerland district on Germany's North Sea coast. The compact, charming harbour is a protected historical monument and is home to one of the last still-functioning sluice mechanisms in the region. The harbour has around 30 berths and, despite modest service facilities and few utility connections, is very popular with sailors. In a recent ranking of Germany's best marinas, Alter Hafen came sixth, making it the only harbour on the North Sea coast to reach the top ten.

Entry is from the North Sea via the Hooksieler Schleuse lock. The marked channel has a water depth of around 2 metres at low tide; it is narrow and prone to silting but is dredged regularly. The first night in the harbour is free for visiting yachtsmen.

The harbour itself has toilets, but otherwise infrastructure is limited. In compensation, several good restaurants sit right by the harbour basin, and a grocery store is about one kilometre away.

Just a few minutes' walk from the boats lies the village's cosy centre, with narrow lanes, old houses, and an artists' house topped by a centuries-old onion dome, once the former town hall. Nearby you can also visit a small shell museum displaying imaginative arrangements of over 3,000 shells from around the world. Come and tie up in this protected old harbour and experience Hooksiel's historic atmosphere up close.