Experience Puken on Sylt
If you look closely, you will find them in Keitum, Wenningstedt and Kampen - the Sylt Puken!
We give you tips on where you can meet the little Sylt house spirits.
Who are the Sylt Puken?
Happy are those who have a Nis Puk in their house.
In the Nordic countries, small house spirits are known who supposedly only appear to children. In Low German, the little man with the red pointed cap is called Nis Puk or Nes Puk. On Sylt, too, the Puken are said to live in attics or barns. If the residents treat the children and pets in the house well, the Puk will look after everything, help around the house and in the fields, and thus bring good luck and prosperity. The Puken are lively! They whizz up and down the stairs, shuffle and jump around the house, or knock on the roof in the attic. Never, and especially at Christmas, should you forget to put out a bowl of porridge for the little imp every now and then, otherwise he will get angry, and with him, health and happiness will leave the house.
Fill a saucepan with 2,5 liters of water and pour in a good pound of barley groats. Add a handful of raisins, a generous pinch of salt, two heaped tablespoons of brown sugar, and the zest of half a lemon. Simmer on low heat for three hours, stirring occasionally. When the groats melt in your mouth, add a large dollop of butter and sprinkle with brown sugar.
The Puken wish you bon appetit with “Blessed Grütze”!
The Sylt Legendary Forest in Wenningstedt & Kampen
Adventure playground with Sylt legends and lots of pukes
The Sylt Legend Forest in Wenningstedt and Kampen is a magical adventure trail where ancient Sylt legends come to life. Several wooden play stations have been set up in a small forest between the Wenningstedt and Kampen campsites, featuring characters such as Ekke Nekkepenn, the dwarf king Finn, and the faithful Ose. And, of course, you'll also encounter numerous Pukens with their red pointed hats. Each station features a panel with the corresponding Sylt legend – told in a child-friendly way and perfect for reading aloud.
The wide forest paths in the Sagenwald forest are suitable for strollers and balance bikes, making them ideal for families or school classes. The forest invites you to explore, share stories, and marvel – and admission is free.
Our advice: Combine your walk through the legendary forest with a visit to the newly designed Playground at the Wenningstedt campsite or a walk around the idyllic village pond.
New: Digital family adventure trail in Kampen
Come with the Puken Nis on an adventure through Kampen
April is a little Sylt Puk - and he wants to discover Kampen with you: All you need is the Kampen.Digital App on your phone!
How it works:
🚶♀️🚲 Let's go – explore Kampen on foot or by bike!
📲 Throughout the town you will find 10 colorful QR codes – these are the stops on your adventure!
➡️ The first stop is the start, the last one is the destination – there you get no points, but lots of exciting information.
🧩 At the 8 stations in between you can solve puzzles, listen to stories and collect points!
What awaits you?
- 🔍 Fun puzzles and tasksthat you can solve with your family
- 🎧 Audio stories from Nisthat tell you exciting things about Kampen
- 🐚 Knowledge & Fun, cleverly packaged for little explorers
It's not about collecting all the points. It's much more important that you try out all the stations, have fun, and learn something new. At the end, everyone gets a small prize – no matter how many points you've earned.
The Puken playground in Keitum
The Pukens are loose here!
The Puken playground at Pröstwai/corner of Munkmarscher Chaussee in Keitum is a lovingly designed meeting place for families. With swings, slides, large climbing frames, and a dedicated area for toddlers, it offers fun for all ages. Surrounded by trees, comfortable benches, and a supermarket right next door, it's ideal for relaxing afternoons outdoors.
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What's special about it: Small, hand-painted wooden pukes are hidden throughout the grounds. Have you found them all yet?
Dive into the world of Nis Puk
The children's books by Boy Lornsen
Perhaps the most famous, Nis Puk, was brought to life by Sylt author Boy Lornsen. The three "Nis Puk" books tell of a small, mischievous house spirit who lives in an attic, loves porridge, and helps people with wit and magic. Sometimes he helps the absent-minded writer Adam Veilchen, sometimes he looks after the student Anna, who is having trouble at school. In another adventure, he tries to conjure up winter with the Puken so that Anna can use her new ice skates. With plenty of imagination and humor, the stories connect children's everyday worries with the mysterious world of the Puken.
Boy Lornsen
The Sylt author of the Nis Puk stories
Boy Lornsen (1922–1995) was a Sylt writer and sculptor who became known far beyond the island with his over 30 children's and young adult books. In addition to the popular Nis Puk stories, he wrote Robbi, Tobbi and the Fliewatüüt, his most famous work—the imaginative story of a boy, a robot, and their special vehicle that can fly, swim, and drive.
