Surfhouse Sylt

The Surfhouse in Westerland

Finally awake: From an abandoned church chapel to a stylish concept store. The Surfhouse offers you a wide range of options, from flat whites to surf lessons.

Surf shop with surfboards, maritime decorations and a rustic counter. — © Peter Bender | Sylt Marketing

A place full of stories, handmade treasures and real encounters on the island of Sylt

"Are you open?" a woman with a following asks curiously through the door of the Surfhouse in Westerland. "Oh crap, I always forget to turn the sign over," laughs Dirk Effler, the man with brown curls, overalls, and bright blue eyes. He welcomes the customers with good energy: "What can I do for you?" The elderly couple looks around expectantly, strolls past vintage furniture and the large workbench with a sewing machine toward the bar. Here, Dirk gets ready: Cappuccino, Aperol Spritz, or golden milk – the Surfhouse bar offers a colorful selection, along with Portuguese Pastel de Nata, an absolute favorite among the globetrotting surfers and guests.
The fact that the two campers are actually just looking for milk doesn't bother Dirk in the slightest. Quite the opposite: He's happy to help out, and they even get to help decide on the price. They quickly reach an agreement.

A shop full of surprises

Meanwhile, another woman enters the surf house, curiously wanders from shelf to shelf, and finally stops in front of a swing in the middle of the room. "Can I buy that?" she asks. "The swing? No, I brought it back from Cape Verde," Dirk explains proudly. He built almost everything in the surf house himself – lovingly, creatively, and uniquely. That the building was once a desolate storage room and garbage dump is no longer apparent: works of art and surfboards adorn the walls and ceilings, telling stories of travels around the globe.

If you surf big waves in Mauritius, the Baltic Sea is nothing to Ü.

The way to Sylt

Man with curly hair and black shirt smiles at camera. — © Peter Bender I Sylt Marketing

Dirk is originally from Berlin. In 2010, Sylt became his new home – it was here that he met his wife Katharina, a true Sylt native. His friend Mitch, an avid kitesurfer, brought him to the island. Dirk himself discovered his love of water sports at an early age: at the age of eight, his stepfather taught him to sail on Lake Dämeritz. Later, he was drawn to surfing, and at some point, he swapped the Baltic Sea for the world's oceans. "When you're surfing big waves in Mauritius, the Baltic Sea is nothing to sniff at," Dirk says with a laugh. But Sylt and the North Sea are different: Due to its location in the open sea, the conditions are more varied and challenging – you can also feel this at the Osteria beach section. No wonder Dirk kept coming back.

The creation of the Surfhouse

"We were constantly running past here to the beach to check out the waves," Dirk recalls. Eventually, he contacted the Sylt Island Tourism Office. Together with a friend, he submitted a concept that laid the foundation for today's Surfhouse. A lot of work lay ahead: The roof was uninsulated, the floor was missing, and hardly anything remained of the original church chapel. But with the help of friends, partners, and a lot of passion, the dilapidated building was transformed into a special place full of life. Perhaps it was the spirit of the old walls that motivated everyone.

A place for creativity, sport and community

Man in tropical shirt cutting strips of fabric in a nautically decorated room. — © Peter Bender | Sylt Marketing

"The Surfhouse is a meeting place for everyone," explains Dirk. "Here you can be creative, sew, shop, drink coffee, book a surfing lesson, swing, dance, make music, and more." Dirk is a trained sailmaker and kite instructor; his travels and decades of experience are reflected not only in the lovingly curated interior, but also in the courses he offers his students. Whether surfing or kitesurfing, you can try almost any water sport with the Surfhouse team.

At the large table by the window sits the sewing machine, which Andi Netz uses almost daily. Under the label " STURMFREI, " he creates bags and accessories from used sailcloth and beach chair fabrics – upcycling and sustainability are top priorities at the Surfhouse. You can experience this for yourself at the regular sewing workshops, which combine creativity and community.

Want to check out the Surfhouse? From kids' camps to concerts, the team always offers a varied program. Another hot tip: Besides the Surfhouse, Dirk Effler and Fabian de Vries also run the surf deli " Zur Goldenen Möwe " on the Westerland promenade.

The surf house is open during the season from 09:00 a.m. to 18:00 p.m.

Text: Julia Petersen

Surfhouse Sylt To the website