Ebb and flood on the North Sea, simply explained
What do ebb, flood, high tide and low tide mean? How the tides on the German North Sea coast come about and why the times differ from place to place.
Guides
Understanding the North Sea tides
When is low tide? What does a gauge show? And what matters on the mudflats? Clear answers for your day by the sea.
When is low tide on the North Sea? Finding the right tide times
Planning a beach day and wondering: ebb or flood? How to find the next tide time for your North Sea destination and make sense of gauges and arrival times.
Mudflat walking on the North Sea: tides and safety
Low tide makes the mudflats walkable, but the incoming tide, tidal creeks and fog can be dangerous. What to know before a mudflat walk on the North Sea.
North Sea water levels: understanding gauges, tide and weather
What do the water level and height figures at a North Sea gauge mean? The difference between the astronomical tide, the BSH water level model and the actual water depth.
Spring tide and neap tide: why the flood sometimes rises higher
What spring and neap tides are, when they occur on the North Sea and how much high and low tide change with them.
Why ebb and flood come later every day
High tide does not come at the same time every day. Why the tides shift, by how much per day, and what it means for your trip.
Tidal range on the North Sea: where the water rises most
What the tidal range is, why it varies so much from List on Sylt to Bremen, and how large it is at well-known places on the North Sea coast.
Storm surges on the North Sea: what the classes mean
When is it a storm surge on the North Sea, and when a severe or very severe one? The BSH classes explained and what they mean for your visit.
Swimming in the North Sea: tides, currents and flags
When you can swim in the North Sea, why the tide matters and what the flags on the beach mean, following the advice of the German lifesaving association DLRG.
The Wadden Sea for beginners: mudflats, tidal creeks and wildlife
What the mudflats are, how tidal creeks work and which animals live in the mud. With the “Small Five” of the Wadden Sea and tips for your first visit.