Name: Biikebrennen in Dagebüll 2026
Start: 2026-02-21T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-02-21T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Strandparkplatz am Badedeich

Biikebrennen

About Biikebrennen

The Biikebrennen is one of the oldest Frisian customs and has been celebrated for centuries on the evening before St. Peter's Day (February 21st) on the North Sea coast. In Dagebüll, in the Nordfriesland district, a torchlight procession leads from the Tourist Information with the volunteer fire brigade to the bathing dike, where a man-high bonfire is lit around 6 PM. Afterwards, it is traditional to gather for a kale dinner in the local restaurants. A tradition recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage of Germany in 2014.

Dates 21 Feb — 21 Feb 2026

Venue Dagebüll (01054)

Prices Free

Status Confirmed

Edition 2026

Biikebrennen — edition 2026

The 2026 Biikebrennen in Dagebüll will take place on Saturday, February 21st — just in time for St. Peter's Eve. Meeting point at 5:45 PM at the Tourist Information, torchlight procession with the Volunteer Fire Brigade to the bathing dike, lighting of the Biike fire around 6:00 PM. Warm drinks on site. Afterwards, kale dinner in the local restaurants — reservation recommended.

Schedule

The 2026 Biikebrennen will follow the classic format. Arriving at the meeting point is recommended from 5:30 PM to secure a torch.

Program at a Glance

5:45 PM — Meeting point Tourist Information, Nordseestraße 1
5:45 PM — Torchlight procession with the Dagebüll Volunteer Fire Brigade
approx. 6:00 PM — Lighting of the Biike fire at the Badedeich beach parking lot
Address and short speech about the custom
Warm drinks and small snacks by the fire
Afterwards, kale dinner in local restaurants

Highlights Biikebrennen 2026

Torchlight procession on St. Peter's Eve
Man-high Biike bonfire on the bathing dike
Traditional kale dinner afterwards
UNESCO Cultural Heritage

Programme Biikebrennen 2026

Detailed schedule for St. Peter's Eve:

Saturday, February 21st, 2026

5:45 PM — Meeting point Tourist Information Dagebüll (Nordseestraße 1). Torch distribution by the Volunteer Fire Brigade.
5:50 PM — Start of the torchlight procession towards the bathing dike
6:00 PM — Arrival at the beach parking lot, gathering at the bonfire pile
6:05 PM — Address and lighting of the Biike fire
6:15–7:00 PM — Gathering by the fire with warm drinks (mulled wine, tea, grog) and small snacks
from 7:00 PM — Transition to the traditional kale dinner in the restaurants (Hotel Restaurant Spieß, Restaurant Schipphörn, Aalhof, among others) — advance reservation strongly recommended

Prices Biikebrennen 2026

Participation in the Biikebrennen is free. Donations for the Volunteer Fire Brigade are welcome. Torches are distributed free of charge on site. Kale dinner in the restaurants according to the menu (approx. €18–€25 for a menu).

Practical information

Practical information — Biikebrennen

Getting There

By train via Niebüll and then the Marschbahn connection to Dagebüll-Mole. By car from the south via the A7 / B5 to Niebüll, then B199 to Dagebüll.

What to Bring

Warm winter clothing (you'll be right on the dike), hat, gloves, sturdy footwear. Optional: your own torch — but the fire brigade also distributes torches at the meeting point.

Reservations

Definitely book a table in a restaurant for the kale dinner in advance — recommended addresses: Hotel Restaurant Spieß Dagebüll, Restaurant Schipphörn, Aalhof.

Admission

Free. Donations for the fire brigade are welcome.

A Frisian Ancient Tradition

The Biikebrennen — Frisian for "fire signal" — is one of the oldest customs on the North Sea coast. Historically, the man-high bonfire accompanied the farewell of the whalers, who would set sail in early March and be away for many months. Over the centuries, the ritual of departure merged with the pagan spring fire and the Christian St. Peter's Day. Today, the saying goes: "With the Biikebrennen, we drive away the winter and evil spirits." In 2014, UNESCO recognized the Biikebrennen as intangible cultural heritage of Germany.

The Event in Dagebüll

Dagebüll, in the Nordfriesland district of Schleswig-Holstein, is located directly on the Wadden Sea, opposite the Halligen islands of Hooge, Langeneß, and Gröde. The Biike fire is celebrated here in its traditional form:

5:45 PM — Meeting point at the Tourist Information (Nordseestraße 1)
5:45 PM — Torchlight procession with the Dagebüll Volunteer Fire Brigade to the bathing dike
approx. 6:00 PM — Lighting of the Biike fire at the beach parking lot
Address by the mayor / pastor with the traditional formula
Hot drinks and small snacks are served by the fire brigade
Afterwards: Kale Dinner in local restaurants — reservation recommended

Kale with Pinkel

The traditional feast after the Biike fire is the North German kale stew — usually served with Kassler (smoked pork), Mettwurst (a type of sausage), or Pinkel (another type of sausage) and fried potatoes. Restaurants in Dagebüll and on the Schipphörn peninsula prepare special menus on this evening; it is difficult to get a table without a reservation on the late St. Peter's evening.

What to Expect

The Biikebrennen is not a tourist show format — it is a genuine tradition supported by the Frisian community. You will experience villagers, families, and some holidaymakers standing together on the dike in the February cold, watching the fire and sipping warm drinks. The atmosphere is both solemn (due to the gravity of the whaler story) and festive (due to the subsequent convivial meal). Anyone who wants to experience authentic North Frisia should come here for the Biikebrennen instead of the classic summer season.