Sheep graze on a vast green meadow while a cargo ship sails in the background on the water. A group of cyclists rides past a white lighthouse, surrounded by green meadows and trees under a bright sky.
Germany

Cuxhaven: A City Shaped by Water

Dicke Berta: Standing Strong Since 1897.
 Cuxhaven, Germany, July 2022

Cuxhaven sits right where the Elbe River meets the North Sea, and here, everything seems to revolve around water. In the harbor, fishing boats and massive cargo ships share space, cranes tower above, and ferries to Neuwerk and Helgoland fill with eager day-trippers. Just a few steps from the busy docks, a peaceful city park offers a break from the maritime hustle—though it’s hard to forget the sea when a historic ketch, the Hermine, stands right in the middle of the lawn.

Dunes, beaches, and the Wadden Sea surround the city. Large ships pass through the Elbe estuary toward the open sea, while small boats bob gently in a tiny harbor tucked behind the dike. Wadden hikers wade through the mudflats, seagulls squawk overhead, and somewhere, a Strandkorb—one of those iconic German beach chairs—is always in the way. Even in the heart of town, water leaves its mark—like at Schloss Ritzebüttel, a historic manor house that once served as the residence of Hamburg’s bailiffs and is still surrounded by a historic moat.

Cuxhaven and water? They belong together. Whether it’s in the harbor, on the beach, or falling straight from the sky.

Map of Cuxhaven
A blue crane stands beside a cargo ship at the dock, with a light blue sky and soft clouds in the background.
Steubenhöft in Cuxhaven has been a departure point for transatlantic travel since the early 20th century. Once a gateway for emigrants heading to America, it now serves cruise ships and special vessels. The terminal’s historic charm meets modern maritime operations along the Elbe.
A red buoy leaning at an angle in front of a brick building with several windows.
An impressive three-story red brick building with a steep roof and an entrance with stairs, set in a well-maintained garden.
Schloss Ritzebüttel has stood in Cuxhaven since the 14th century. Once the residence of Hamburg’s local governors, the brick-built manor is one of the oldest secular buildings in northern Germany. Today, it serves as a cultural venue and a reminder of the region’s long history under Hamburg’s rule.
Sheep graze on a vast green meadow while a cargo ship sails in the background on the water.
A familiar North Sea contrast—sheep grazing on the coastal dike while a cargo ship passes by Cuxhaven, where land and sea are always connected.
A group of cyclists rides past a white lighthouse, surrounded by green meadows and trees under a bright sky.
The "Dicke Berta" lighthouse has stood at the mouth of the Elbe since 1897. Decommissioned in 1983, the small but sturdy tower guided ships into Cuxhaven for nearly a century. Today, it’s a local landmark and a popular stop for cyclists exploring the coast.
View of a historical tower surrounded by trees and colorful flowers along the shore of a calm waterway.
Cuxhaven’s historic water tower has been part of the city skyline since 1897. Built in red brick with a distinctive green roof, it once supplied the growing port town with drinking water. Today, it stands as a well-preserved industrial monument, surrounded by greenery.
A modern building with large windows and a flat roof stands in front of a green lawn, under a partly cloudy sky.
The Strandhaus Döse in Cuxhaven is a prime example of mid-century seaside architecture. With its distinctive angled windows and functional design, the building has served beachgoers for decades. A reminder of Germany’s postwar coastal tourism boom, it still stands as a landmark on the North Sea.