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On the water
With about 25 marinas, more than 30 sailing and surfing schools, 15 kilometres of the Schwentine water hiking trail and about 10 deep-sea fishing grounds in the immediate vicinity of the coast, Ostholstein is a real paradise for water sports enthusiasts. Be it sailing, surfing, fishing or paddling: Here, not only will you find favourable weather conditions, but also optimal conditions in terms of infrastructure, service offerings and training.
Wassertourismus in Schleswig-Holstein e.V.
Through our active participation in the Association for Wassertourismus in Schleswig-Holstein e.V.(WiSH), a network of regional water tourism businesses, we contribute to joint lobbying and marketing efforts and thereby support the maritime economy and water tourism in Ostholstein. This includes, among other things, site-related issues, environmental protection matters, and external communication.
In this way, successful networks have already been established, and Ostholstein’s strong position in the national water sports market has been stabilised and further developed.
Would you like to benefit from this joint network and take part in the wide range of projects of the Association for Wassertourismus in Schleswig-Holstein e.V. (WiSH)? You can find an overview of services and the membership application at www.wassertourismus-sh.de or contact Bärbel Peters directly at geschaeftsstelle@wassertourismus-sh.de.
Sailing division
The sailing division currently consists of 21 member companies along the Baltic Sea coast of Schleswig-Holstein, most of which are marinas or sailing schools. With the aim of advancing the development and marketing of coastal tourism, the network was established in 2004 in connection with the INTERREG project “BalticSailing” and is actively engaged as the sailing division within the Association for Wassertourismus in Schleswig-Holstein e.V. (WiSH), working jointly in the field of water tourism in Schleswig-Holstein.
Surf division
The surf division currently comprises 18 member companies from the disciplines of windsurfing, kitesurfing, stand-up paddling, and surfing. In order to ensure that the popular surf areas in Schleswig-Holstein remain attractive for visitors and to strengthen the sector in the long term, committed companies decided in 2020 to join forces and officially establish the surf division within the Association for Wassertourismus in Schleswig-Holstein e.V. (WiSH).
This structure aims to advance lobbying and marketing activities and to enable a sustainable and environmentally responsible form of water sports along the coast.
Fishing division
In recent years, angling tourism along the Baltic Sea coast in Schleswig-Holstein has increasingly faced regulatory challenges, such as bag limits. In order to address these developments and stabilise angling tourism, angling-related tourism businesses from Flensburg to Lübeck joined forces and officially established the fishing division within the Association for Wassertourismus in Schleswig-Holstein (WiSH) in 2019.
The aim, together with its currently 12 member companies, is to strengthen both recreational fishing and angling tourism in coastal waters as well as inland areas of Schleswig-Holstein through joint lobbying and marketing activities.
Paddling
Starting at Lake Eutin, the Schwentine meanders along for about 55 kilometres through the beautiful lake scenery of Holstein Switzerland to the Kiel Fjord. Nature as far as the eye can see, as well as countless resting places, bathing bays and excursion possibilities along the route make the river a dream area for paddlers.
With funding of around €330,000 from the State Office for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Areas (LLUR), the project “Environmentally Friendly Improvement and Sustainable Quality Development of the Schwentine Water Trail” has been implemented over the past three years. The District of Plön led the project and invested in various infrastructure measures. The main goal was to create a modern visitor guidance and information system and to make the area more welcoming for paddlers.
New information boards (BIS) have been installed at eleven locations in Eutin and Bosau. They show maps and provide useful information about nature protection, launching and landing sites, rest areas, and places of interest. In Eutin, a renovated shelter now offers better protection from the weather, and improved jetties make getting in and out of boats easier. Two new navigation markers on Lake Eutin and Lake Keller help paddlers to find their way. Since spring 2025, new onshore signs also guide visitors to the access points.
In addition to Eutin and Bosau, also Plön, Preetz, Schwentinental, Ascheberg, and Bösdorf have contributed their own measures. These include jetty extensions, locking systems, and the construction of a sanitary building.
As a project partner, we support the implementation of these measures in the district of Ostholstein in administrative, in terms of content and financial matters.
