Surf + beach culture Sylt

The new surf museum in Westerland's town hall

Following in the footsteps of the fathers of surfing

Surf Museum in the Town Hall: Surf and beach culture Sylt — © Julia Petersen

The spacious rooms of the former casino, with their soaring ceilings, in Westerland's town hall gradually filled up. Many people made their way there on that sunny May day to discover the new exhibition "Surf + Beach Culture Sylt" and immerse themselves in bygone eras, formative experiences, and stories of the sea.

A similar scene unfolded in 2024, much further east, right on the Wadden Sea. There, where perhaps no wave ever breaks, but where a part of the island's history is carefully preserved, at the Sylt Museum in Keitum . The museum director, Alexander Römer, and the Sölring Foriining ( Sylt Association ) fortunately recognized the significance of the project by the two islanders, Angelo Schmitt and Dennis Bullen, focusing on Sylt's surfing and beach culture, and provided the creative team with a wonderful temporary home. Even at the opening of the first part of the exhibition, the rooms of the traditional captain's house were completely filled: with pride and joy, curious visitors, and witnesses of several generations.

True to the surf spirit, the continuation of " Surf + Beach Culture Sylt " set off once again, traveling across the island and finally returning to its historical origins in Westerland. There, where so much began. Here, between the surf, the dunes, and the endless horizon of the North Sea, a unique beach culture developed over generations, shaping life on the island to this day. It was here, just off the coast of Westerland, that the foundation for surfing on Sylt, and indeed in all of Germany, was laid in 1952. Among those responsible was lifeguard Uwe Drath, who rode the first wave with a massive wooden rescue plank. That a vibrant surf culture would develop alongside the beach culture from that moment, a culture that continues to thrive today, was something no one could have foreseen. They were too caught up in the moment, enjoying the here and now and the lively island life.

Surfing is an integral part of the island's culture.

Angelo Schmitt

A town hall steeped in history

“There are a few indications that suggest the Sylt lifeguards were among the first surfers in Europe,” says Angelo Schmitt, who initiated this project together with Dennis Bullen. The concept for the exhibition, which can be visited from Thursday to Sunday in the former casino of the Westerland town hall, was developed four years ago. It is one of those projects that demanded patience from its initiators and illustrates once again how important it can be to hold fast to a vision. “I am very grateful that we were able to realize this project with the help of many people. Whether it was the craftsmanship of Martin Hoppe and Oscar Neumann-Asmussen or the expertise of Sinje Lornsen, an employee of the Sylt Archives – just to name a few.”

With the second part of the exhibition "Surf + Beach Culture Sylt," Angelo Schmitt shifts the focus of the new exhibition from the 1950s, 60s, and 70s to the 1980s. "With this decade, we are examining a time in which surf culture on Sylt developed significantly and received new impetus." Visitors have the opportunity to delve deep into the island's history of past decades and experience the stories from the beach that continue to shape Sylt's island culture today. There are many reasons to travel to Sylt, but perhaps the most compelling remains the forty-kilometer-long beach and the magic it exudes year-round.

“The lifeguards are the unsung heroes of the beach, ensuring our safety then as now. They took the next generation under their wing, passing on everything they knew. That impressed me deeply and had a lasting impact on me,” recalls Angelo Schmitt, who followed in his predecessors' footsteps and dedicated himself for many years to volunteering with the youth of the Sylt Surf Club . A native of Sylt, he knows the North Sea with all its whims. As a lifeguard and surfer, he studied it passionately every day from a young age.

A journey through island life of past decades

Water is his element, as one would expect from a native islander. He traveled the world, often with nothing more than a backpack and a surfboard under his arm. But Sylt is home for the father of two. The island is his homeland, his life. That's why preserving this identity and culture is so important to him. He also wants to highlight how closely sport, community, and nature are intertwined, and how crucial it is to protect the coast and the sea. This is playfully and artistically illustrated in his special exhibition "Shades of Trash," also located in the former casino in the town hall. With his figures created from beach debris, Angelo Schmitt addresses the issue of environmental and marine conservation and also draws attention to it with pop-up memorials in various locations, from Sylt to Sri Lanka. He does so without being preachy, but with plenty of inspiration and a powerful impact.

In addition to various exhibits such as surfboards and original wetsuits, fossil finds, surf art and photographs, as well as lifeguard equipment like ropes and carts, the museum duo also presents a twenty-minute film that highlights all eras and features interviews with contemporary witnesses. It conveys the special energy of the "fathers of surfing" and impressively illustrates, even for those unfamiliar with the subject, the essence of this cross-generational way of life.

Since May 2nd, both exhibitions have been open from Thursday to Sunday between 12 pm and 17 pm. Extended opening hours from June onwards will be announced on the Instagram account @surfundstrandkultursylt . Admission is €10, children pay half price. Members of the Surf Club Sylt and the Skateboarding Sylt association have free admission.

Surf + beach culture Sylt

Impressions of surfing history

The next generations are following in their footsteps: For example, Momme Drath, grandson of Uwe Drath, Germany's first surfer. Or Jana Kleemann, daughter of surfing icon and Surf Club Sylt founding member Markus Mager.