Witsum
Encyclopedia
Witsum is a municipality on the island of Föhr
, in the district of Nordfriesland
, in Schleswig-Holstein
, Germany
.
. Along the stream Godel, the only "river" on Föhr, many seabird
s use to hatch, migratory birds among them.
The hamlet is situated on a geestland
edge, there is no sea dike.
West of Witsum a hill called Sylvert is located. There is a saying in the area that translates to: "What Mount Everest is for the world, the Sylvert is for our beloved island."
and thus was a direct part of the Danish crown while Osterland Föhr belonged to the duchy of Schleswig
. Only when Denmark lost Schleswig to Prussia
in the Second Schleswig War, Witsum became a part of Schleswig-Holstein.
Witsum and the neighbouring village of Utersum
were the only municipalities in the second zone of the Schleswig Plebiscites
to vote for Denmark
in 1920; yet because they were not directly situated at the border, the two of them remained with Germany.
, a town meeting
instead of a council. All elective inhabitants may attend the meeting.
with Utersum runs through Witsum. Moreover a regular bus line serves the village.
Föhr
Föhr is one of the North Frisian Islands on the German coast of the North Sea. It is part of the Nordfriesland district in the federal state of Schleswig-Holstein. Föhr is the second-largest North Sea island of Germany....
, in the district of Nordfriesland
Nordfriesland
Nordfriesland, English "Northern Friesland" or "North Frisia", is a district in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It includes almost all of traditional North Frisia along with adjacent areas to the east and south and is bounded by the districts of Schleswig-Flensburg and Dithmarschen, the North Sea and...
, in Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein is the northernmost of the sixteen states of Germany, comprising most of the historical duchy of Holstein and the southern part of the former Duchy of Schleswig...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Geography
Witsum is the smallest village on Föhr. From here one can see the Halligen and AmrumAmrum
Amrum is one of the North Frisian Islands on the German North Sea coast, south of Sylt and west of Föhr. It is part of the Nordfriesland district in the federal state of Schleswig-Holstein...
. Along the stream Godel, the only "river" on Föhr, many seabird
Seabird
Seabirds are birds that have adapted to life within the marine environment. While seabirds vary greatly in lifestyle, behaviour and physiology, they often exhibit striking convergent evolution, as the same environmental problems and feeding niches have resulted in similar adaptations...
s use to hatch, migratory birds among them.
The hamlet is situated on a geestland
Geestland
Geest is a type of slightly raised landscape that occurs in the plains of in Northern Germany, the Northern Netherlands and Denmark. It is a landscape of sandy and gravelly soils, usually mantled by a heathland vegetation, comprising glacial deposits left behind after the last ice age during the...
edge, there is no sea dike.
West of Witsum a hill called Sylvert is located. There is a saying in the area that translates to: "What Mount Everest is for the world, the Sylvert is for our beloved island."
History
Witsum was first recorded in 1509. As a part of Westerland Föhr, it belonged to the Royal Enclaves of DenmarkDenmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
and thus was a direct part of the Danish crown while Osterland Föhr belonged to the duchy of Schleswig
Schleswig
Schleswig or South Jutland is a region covering the area about 60 km north and 70 km south of the border between Germany and Denmark; the territory has been divided between the two countries since 1920, with Northern Schleswig in Denmark and Southern Schleswig in Germany...
. Only when Denmark lost Schleswig to Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
in the Second Schleswig War, Witsum became a part of Schleswig-Holstein.
Witsum and the neighbouring village of Utersum
Utersum
Utersum is a municipality on the island of Föhr, in the district of Nordfriesland, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. The municipality includes the hamlet of Hedehusum.-Geography:...
were the only municipalities in the second zone of the Schleswig Plebiscites
Schleswig Plebiscites
The Schleswig Plebiscites were two plebiscites, organized according to section XII, articles 109 to 114 of the Treaty of Versailles of June 28, 1919, in order to determine the future border between Denmark and Germany through the former duchy of Schleswig...
to vote for Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
in 1920; yet because they were not directly situated at the border, the two of them remained with Germany.
Politics
With less than 70 inhabitants, Witsum has, according to article 54 of the Schleswig-Holstein GemeindeordnungGemeindeordnung
-Germany:Historically, the Gemeindeordnung was state law. During the Weimar Republic, it became federal law named Deutsche Gemeindeordnung. The Nazi regime made several revisions to comply with their political and legal philosophy....
, a town meeting
Town meeting
A town meeting is a form of direct democratic rule, used primarily in portions of the United States since the 17th century, in which most or all the members of a community come together to legislate policy and budgets for local government....
instead of a council. All elective inhabitants may attend the meeting.
Traffic
The State Road that connects Wyk auf FöhrWyk auf Föhr
Wyk auf Föhr is the only town on Föhr, the second largest of the North Frisian Islands on the German coast of the North Sea. Like the entire island it belongs to the district of Nordfriesland...
with Utersum runs through Witsum. Moreover a regular bus line serves the village.