SHMF Concert — W.D.R. Ferry Wyk auf Föhr

Floating Concert Hall on Föhr

Since 1986, the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival (SHMF) has been using around 50 extraordinary venues throughout Schleswig-Holstein and Northern Germany each year — from barns and riding halls to shipyards. The W.D.R. Ferry Uthlande is among the most spectacular of these: for the first time, a car ferry from the Wyker Dampfschiffs-Reederei is being converted into a concert space, moored at the ferry terminal in Wyk auf Föhr.

Föhr — Frisian Island with Cultural Ambitions

Wyk auf Föhr is the main town on the island of Föhr in the North Frisia district — an island known since the 19th century for its seaside resort tradition and its distinct Frisian culture. The W.D.R. Ferry venue complements the SHMF's island program, which also includes St. Johannis Church in Nieblum and the Museum Kunst der Westküste in Alkersum.

Concert Experience Against a Maritime Backdrop

The concerts on the ferry have their own acoustics — the high steel space of the car deck, the open deck areas, the gentle lapping of the North Sea against the hull. Anyone who has sat here once remembers not only the music but also the backdrop: mudflats, seagulls, the tooting of other ferries in the background. The SHMF openly states that this venue is not barrier-free — registration with the service office is required for guests with special needs.

Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival

The SHMF was founded in 1986 by Justus Frantz and is now one of Europe's most renowned classical music festivals. Throughout the summer, around 200 concerts take place in unusual locations, complemented by the "Festival Orchestra" featuring young musicians from around the world. Christian Kuhnt has been the artistic director since 2020.