GERMAN FEDERAL STATE

Schleswig-Holstein: State Flag, Capital and Regional Profile

Schleswig-Holstein is located between the North Sea and the Baltic Sea and therefore has two very different coastal worlds. Wadden Sea, Halligen, port cities and the North Sea Channel shape the image of the northernmost German federal state. Its blue-white-red flag is simple; the history of the country, on the other hand, is only revealed by the interplay of German, Danish and other regional traditions.

Test your knowledge →

Schleswig-Holstein State Flag & Regional Facts · supplied learning collection

Schleswig-Holstein at a glance

Name: Schleswig-Holstein
Country: Germany
Profile type: German federal state
Administrative seat in source record: Kiel
Western Sea: North Sea
Eastern Sea: Baltic Sea
Neighbouring Northern State: Denmark
Special coastal shape: Hallows
Large waterway: Canal North-Baltic
International Nature Area: Wadden Sea
World Heritage recognition Wadden Sea: 2009
Migratory bird route: East Atlantic train route
Maritime event: Kiel Week

The Flag of Schleswig-Holstein

The country flag shown consists of three horizontal stripes of equal height. From top to bottom follow blue, white and red. A coat of arms or writing is not available on this variant. For a safe allocation, the sequence is therefore more important than the mere occurrence of the three common colors.

The simple tricolor should be distinguished from a service flag with a heraldic shield. The country has its own historical coat of arms traditions for Schleswig and Holstein, but they are not visible on the cloth selected here. The description includes only the elements actually shown; a coastal landscape is not depicted on the flag.

Schleswig-Holstein: Location and Territorial Role

Schleswig-Holstein extends in the north of Germany to the border with Denmark. Kiel is located on the Baltic Sea and is the state capital. The location between two seas is more than just a tourist formula: it explains coastal protection, shipping, port locations and the importance of connections across the country.

The west coast is characterized by the North Sea, Wadden and offshore islands. On the Baltic Sea you will encounter other coastal forms and harbour spaces. Inland lakes, rivers and different agricultural landscapes complement the picture. The federal state should therefore not be equated with a single beach or watt motif.

Landscape, History and Culture

The Wadden Sea is a landscape in constant motion. Ebb and flow expose and cover surfaces; sediments are rearranged and habitats change. Nature conservation also means making natural processes possible. The Schleswig-Holstein coastline forms only a part of this system, which extends to the Netherlands and Denmark.

Halligen are a special settlement and landscape form of the North Sea coast. Its location in the sphere of influence of the sea makes the relationship between human everyday life, coastal protection and natural dynamics particularly clear. They are part of the understanding of North Frisia as well as the larger islands and the dense marshes on the mainland.

German-Danish relations run through the country’s history. As a result, Schleswig-Holstein has a cultural border position that cannot be explained solely by looking at the current state border. At the same time, the Kiel Week and maritime transport routes connect the country with distant coasts, ports and international encounters.

Wadden Sea National Park

The Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park protects an important section of the North Sea coast. It is also part of a larger international natural context. Tranquil migratory birds use the area on the East Atlantic migratory route, which gives local habitats a function far beyond national borders.

World Heritage and Biosphere Reserve

The international World Heritage recognition of the Wadden Sea took place in 2009. In addition, there are biosphere reserves and national parks with their own spatial and organizational boundaries. These terms refer to different concepts of protection and therefore their names may not be used as fully interchangeable designations of the same administrative unit.

Canal North-Baltic

The canal is one of Schleswig-Holstein’s defining maritime connections. It makes the situation of the country between two seas particularly vivid. Together with the ports, it shows that the inland and its transport routes are just as much a part of maritime history as the open coasts.