Wattenlaufen mit Musik Büsum

When the Brass Band Marches into the Mudflats

It's a scene you won't experience anywhere else on the German coast: a brass band marches through the mudflats of the Wadden Sea, a Mudflat President in historical uniform leads a group of holidaymakers behind him, and several hundred onlookers stand on the beach. This is how Wattenlaufen mit Musik has been taking place since 1900 – one of Schleswig-Holstein's most original traditions, invented by a resourceful Hamburg summer guest who had the idea of having musicians play in the mudflats.

A Tradition from the Dithmarschen District

The venue is the Watt-Tribüne (Mudflat Grandstand) on the main beach of the North Sea resort of Büsum in the Dithmarschen district. On nine dates between May and September – always depending on the tides – the reigning Mudflat President (currently Momme Claußen, the 24th since the office was established in 1908) leads guests into the mudflats. The procession is accompanied by changing musical bands: the Bordkapelle von mahoin, the Oelixdorfer Musikzug, or the Wolfram Berg- und Hüttenkapelle. Free admission – anyone can join in without registration.

Egg-and-Spoon Race, Tug-of-War, and Saltwater Baptism

What sounds like folk folklore farce is actually a lovingly staged program with a firm ritual. The guests are divided into two teams and compete against each other in old games: Wattlaufen (mudflat running) as a race through the mud, Eierlauf (egg-and-spoon race) on shaky ground, Tauziehen (tug-of-war) until your trousers are full of mud. The highlight is the Seesal-Zeremonie (Sea Salt Ceremony), a baptism with North Sea water by the Mudflat President, which makes the guests honorary Büsumers – complete with a certificate. The whole spectacle lasts about two hours.

Büsum, the Crab Cutter, and the Mudflats

Büsum, with just under 5,300 inhabitants, is one of Schleswig-Holstein's most important North Sea resorts. In 2025, the municipality recorded over 2.3 million overnight stays, and its harbor is home to 43 crab cutters. The Wadden Sea off Büsum is part of the UNESCO World Natural Heritage National Park Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea. Wattenlaufen mit Musik is the cultural variant to the classic mudflat hikes with a national park guide and turns the mudflats into an open-air ballroom.

What You Should Know

The dates are strictly dictated by ebb and flow – the exact times vary from date to date (between 11:00 AM and 5:00 PM). Rubber boots or water shoes are recommended, but going barefoot is also okay. Anyone who participates is guaranteed to get dirty – that's part of it. Everything is accessible for spectators on the beach, and seating on the Mudflat Grandstand is free.