Name: International Glücksburg Förde-Crossing 2026
Start: 2026-08-08T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-08-08T00:00:00+00:00
Location: DLRG-Strand Sandwig

Förde-Crossing

About Förde-Crossing

The International Glücksburg Förde-Crossing is one of Northern Germany's best-known open-water swimming events: up to 450 swimmers cross the approximately 3-kilometer-wide Flensburg Fjord in August from Sønderhav, Denmark, to the DLRG beach Sandwig in Glücksburg. A cross-border sports tradition since 1997, organized by the DLRG Glücksburg in the Schleswig-Flensburg district.

Dates 08 Aug — 08 Aug 2026

Venue Glücksburg (Ostsee) (01059)

Prices 50.00€ — 55.00€

Status Confirmed

Edition 2026

Förde-Crossing — edition 2026

Tickets →

The 29th International Förde-Crossing starts on Saturday, August 8, 2026, at 2:15 PM in Sønderhav (Denmark). 450 swimmers will cross approximately 3 kilometers of saltwater towards the DLRG beach Sandwig in Glücksburg. Registration opens April 1, 2026.

The 29th edition of the Förde-Crossing will take place on Saturday, August 8, 2026. The swim starts in Sønderhav (Denmark) around 2:15 PM, with arrival at the DLRG beach Sandwig in Glücksburg between 3:00 PM and 4:30 PM, depending on swimming speed.

In case of bad weather conditions, the crossing will be rerouted to a triangular course directly off the beach, ensuring the safety of all participants and escort boats.

Online registration begins on April 1, 2026, at 0:00 AM and ends on July 8, 2026 (or earlier if 450 spots are filled). A waiting list will be maintained.

Highlights Förde-Crossing 2026

One of the few organized cross-border swimming routes in Europe, with impressive DLRG escort – up to 450 swimmers, each accompanied by their own rescue boat. The transition from the Danish to the German side of the water in the middle of the fjord is an unforgettable experience.

Programme Förde-Crossing 2026

Schedule on August 8, 2026

Morning: Participant arrival, check-in at DLRG beach Sandwig
Noon: Bus transfer of participants to Sønderhav (Denmark)
2:15 PM: Swim start in Sønderhav
3:00 PM–4:30 PM: Swimmer arrival at DLRG beach Sandwig, depending on pace
Afternoon: Refreshments, recovery, beach party at the arrival point

Participant Requirements

Minimum age 15 years on the day of the event
Wetsuit mandatory (to be brought by the participant)
Swim caps provided by the organizer
Open-water swimming experience recommended

Prices Förde-Crossing 2026

Registration fee: €50 regular, €55 on the day of the event. T-shirt €20 extra. Refund available until July 9, 2026 (minus €10 processing fee).

Practical information

Practical information — Förde-Crossing

Getting There

By car via the A7 (Flensburg exit). By train to Flensburg Hbf, then bus 21 to Glücksburg.

Registration

Online from April 1, 2026, at foerdecrossing.de or stgk.de. Registration deadline: July 8, 2026. Maximum 450 participants.

Requirements

Minimum age 15 years on the day of the event. Wetsuit mandatory. Swim caps are provided by the organizer.

Address

DLRG-Strand Sandwig, Strandweg, 24960 Glücksburg (Ostsee), Schleswig-Flensburg district.

3 Kilometers of Saltwater, Two Countries

The International Glücksburg Förde-Crossing is a cross-border open-water swimming event that takes place annually in August. The route leads from Sønderhav in Denmark on the north side of the fjord to Glücksburg-Sandwig on the German side – a distance of approximately 3 kilometers in open, salty Baltic Sea water with temperatures between 15 and 22 °C. A wetsuit is mandatory.

Event Concept and Safety

The event is organized by the DLRG Glücksburg e.V. and is considered one of the best-organized open-water crossings in Germany. Up to 450 swimmers are allowed to start per edition. Each participant is accompanied by a DLRG rescue boat, which guides the swimmer through the fjord currents and past passing ships. The safety organization on the course is impressive – a major operation for the DLRG and volunteers.

Tradition Since 1997

The first event took place in 1997. The 29th edition will be held in 2026. The event has become a firm fixture in the open-water swimming scene of Northern Europe, attracting participants from Germany, Denmark, and other Baltic Sea rim countries.

Location: Flensburg Fjord, Schleswig-Flensburg District

The Flensburg Fjord is Germany's northernmost fjord and forms part of the German-Danish border. It is about 50 kilometers long and approximately 3 kilometers wide at the crossing point. Glücksburg belongs to the Schleswig-Flensburg district in the state of Schleswig-Holstein. The town, with its Glücksburg Castle, is not only Germany's northernmost swimming destination but also a popular tourist spot on the German-Danish border.