Greetsiel is one of those places that feels almost too perfect to be real. The little harbor, lined with historic shrimp trawlers, looks straight out of a storybook. Red brick gabled houses, narrow canals, cobblestone streets—everything is just as you’d imagine East Frisia. Even the windmills are right where they should be.

But Greetsiel isn’t an open-air museum, even if it sometimes feels like one. The fishing boats in the harbor aren’t just for show—they’re still in use. Nets hang out to dry, the scent of salt and fish lingers in the air. If you arrive early enough, you can watch the shrimp fishermen at work.

It doesn’t take long to wander through the village, so I made a quick detour to the Pilsum Lighthouse. At just eleven meters tall, it would be easy to overlook—if it weren’t painted in bright red and yellow stripes. Over the years, it has become one of the most recognizable landmarks in East Frisia, thanks to its frequent appearances in German films and TV shows. A dwarf among lighthouses, but with undeniable star power.