Eckernförde Sprottentage

The Sprat — Eckernförde's Calling Card

When the scent of smoked fish fills the air at the Schiffbrücke and the first stages are being set up, it's that time again: the Sprottentage turn Eckernförde into a four-day state of exception at Whitsun. The smoked specialty, the small smoked sprat from the Baltic Sea, has been the trademark of the town in the Rendsburg-Eckernförde district for generations. The festival celebrates this culinary heritage and uses it as an occasion for a large harbour festival with music, sports, and culture.

The Harbour Mile as Festival Grounds

The venue is the entire harbour mile around the Schiffbrücke and the city harbour. Stalls offer freshly smoked sprats, fish rolls, fried herring, and North German specialties. Live bands like United Four, The Golden Hippies, and Magic 25 provide the atmosphere on several stages. In addition, the cult duo Stine un Rolli — two storytellers performing in historical costumes — presents tales from fishing life and the old Achterstraat.

Sprat Village, Hanseatic Cog, and SUP Championship

Families will find a dedicated children's area in the Sprottendörp with craft activities, stone painting, and the program "Eckernförde malt Kids" (Eckernförde paints Kids), supervised by local tour guides. Those who want to get on the water can set sail with the Kiel Hanseatic cog — a historically accurate replica of a medieval Hanseatic ship from 1380. The sporting highlight is the SUP Sprat Race, considered the German Open-Water Championship in Stand-up Paddling, bringing top national athletes to Eckernförde Bay.

Round Table and Duck Race

Among the established traditions are the duck race organized by Round Table Eckernförde and the cog tours, which start daily from the Schiffbrücke (90-minute round trip, €25 for adults, €12 for children). The festival is open daily from 11 am to 11 pm — so you can spend a whole day in Eckernförde without running out of program highlights.

Eckernförde — A Baltic Sea Resort with Character

Eckernförde has been a traditional Baltic Sea resort since the 19th century and the center of sprat smoking in Schleswig-Holstein since the 1830s. Today, the town has around 21,000 inhabitants. The state of Schleswig-Holstein and the district of Rendsburg-Eckernförde support the Sprottentage as a regional flagship that attracts tens of thousands of visitors at Whitsun.