Brent Goose Days Biosphere Halligen
Three weeks of nature festival celebrating the stopover of Brent Geese in the Wadden Sea
About Brent Goose Days
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The Nature Festival of the North Frisian Halligen
The Brent Goose Days are the largest nature festival in North Frisia and a key date in the event calendar of the state of Schleswig-Holstein. Between mid-April and early May, the Wadden Sea serves as a resting area for many thousands of birds from all over the world — up to 80,000 Brent Geese stop over on the Halligen islands and the mainland coast on their way from France and the Netherlands to the Siberian tundra. The Brent Goose Days celebrate this natural phenomenon with over three weeks of programming.
140 Events on Several Islands and the Mainland
From April 18 to May 10, 2026, over 140 events will take place — on the Halligen islands of Langeneß, Hooge, Gröde, Oland, on the North Frisian islands of Amrum, Föhr, and Sylt, as well as on the mainland between Schlüttsiel, Husum, and Nordstrand. The program includes:
- Guided bird watching with binoculars and spotting scopes
- Mudflat hikes with nature conservation experts
- Expert lectures on the biology of Brent Geese and the importance of the Wadden Sea as a hub for migratory birds
- Family program with hands-on activities for children
- Culinary events featuring Halligen specialties
- Accompanying musical concerts in churches and boatyards
Opening Ceremony on Hallig Hooge
The highlight to kick off the event is the opening ceremony on April 18, 2026, on Hallig Hooge. The opening package includes the boat trip from/to Schlüttsiel, the opening ceremony, a small biosphere snack, coffee and pastries, and the afternoon program. Registration required by April 15, 2026.
Organizers and Sponsors
The Brent Goose Days are jointly organized by:
- Wadden Sea National Park (State Agency for Coastal Protection, National Park and Marine Conservation Schleswig-Holstein)
- Biosphere Die Halligen
- Schutzstation Wattenmeer (Wadden Sea Conservation Station)
- WWF Germany
- NABU Schleswig-Holstein
The sponsorship by several nature conservation organizations underscores the international importance of the event: The Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea has been a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site since 2009 and is part of Europe's most important bird migration route, the East Atlantic Flyway.
Brent Goose Days — edition 2026
The 2026 edition continues the format of previous years, offering around 140 individual events. The kick-off is the opening ceremony on Saturday, April 18, 2026, on Hallig Hooge — the central program point and one of the traditional highlights of the festival.
Over the following three weeks, excursions, guided tours, lectures, family programs, and culinary/musical events will be spread across all Halligen islands as well as Amrum, Föhr, Sylt, and the mainland between Schlüttsiel and Husum. The fixed migration route of the Brent Geese dictates the rhythm: in early/mid-April, populations are still growing, by the end of April the flocks reach their peak with up to 80,000 birds, and in early May, the onward journey towards the Siberian tundra begins.
Programme Brent Goose Days 2026
Saturday, April 18, 2026 — Opening on Hallig Hooge
- 9:30 AM — Departure by boat from Schlüttsiel
- Opening ceremony with nature conservation stakeholders
- Biosphere snack at midday
- Coffee and pastries in the afternoon
- Afternoon program: guided tours, lectures
- Approx. 6:30 PM — Return to Schlüttsiel
April 19 – May 10, 2026 — Festival Program
- Bird watching with binoculars and spotting scopes (several daily, Halligen + mainland)
- Mudflat hikes with nature conservation experts
- Guided bike tours through the Reußenköge with bird watching stops
- Expert lectures on the biology of Brent Geese and the East Atlantic Flyway
- Family activities, craft workshops for children
- Culinary events with Halligen specialties
- Accompanying concerts in churches and boatyards
Full program with registration per event at ringelganstage.de.
Highlights Brent Goose Days 2026
Prices Brent Goose Days 2026
Practical information — Brent Goose Days
Getting There
Mainland: Husum or Niebüll by train (RE 6 / RE 60), then by bus or car to the Schlüttsiel ferry terminal. Halligen islands: Ferry operated by Wyker Dampfschiffs-Reederei (W.D.R.) and Adler-Schiffe from Schlüttsiel, Nordstrand, and Dagebüll. Islands Amrum / Föhr / Sylt: separate ferry connections from Dagebüll, Schlüttsiel, or Niebüll/train from Westerland.
Opening Package Hallig Hooge
Boat trip from/to Schlüttsiel or Langeneß, opening ceremony, biosphere snack, coffee/pastries, and afternoon program: Adults €25, children up to 14 years €10. Departure Schlüttsiel 9:30 AM, return approx. 6:30 PM. Registration by April 15, 2026, at [email protected].
Program Overview
Complete program with all 140+ events at ringelganstage.de. Many individual events require registration and payment.
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Travel to this festival
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Where it takes place Brent Goose Days
Halligen (Langeneß, Hooge, Gröde, Oland), Amrum, Föhr, Sylt und Festland
Hallig Langeneß / Hallig Hooge / Halligen-Region, 25863 Langeneß