Cuxhaven Facts for Kids

Cuxhaven (pronounced kooks-hah-fen) is a cool town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It's right on the coast of the North Sea, where the big Elbe River flows into the ocean. Cuxhaven is the northernmost point in Lower Saxony!

This town is about 14 kilometers (9 miles) wide and 7 kilometers (4 miles) long. It's home to around 52,000 people. Some of its areas, like Duhnen, Döse, and Sahlenburg, are super popular for vacations by the sea.

Cuxhaven is important for fishing and for registering ships, especially for Hamburg and the Kiel Canal. Tourism is also a very big deal here. For a long time, from the 1200s until 1937, Cuxhaven (and its older part, Ritzebüttel) belonged to Hamburg. The island of Neuwerk, which is part of Hamburg, is just off the coast of Cuxhaven.

The most famous symbol of Cuxhaven is the Kugelbake. It's a tall wooden structure that used to be a lighthouse. It marks the spot where the Elbe River officially meets the North Sea. You can even see the Kugelbake on the town's coat of arms!

A Look at Cuxhaven's Past
Fun for Tourists
Geography and Culture
Sister Cities
Famous People from Cuxhaven
- Sports Stars
Climate
See also

A Look at Cuxhaven's Past

Water tower in Cuxhaven.

The area that is now Cuxhaven has a long history. A part of the town called Ritzebüttel was once a fortress. In 1394, the city of Hamburg took control of this fortress. They used it to protect the mouth of the Elbe River, which was super important for ships traveling to and from Hamburg.

In 1900, a famous shipping company called the Hamburg America Line built a huge terminal in Cuxhaven. This was a major departure point for many people from Germany and Europe who were moving to America. It was used until 1969. Today, the beautiful old buildings from that terminal have been restored. They are now a museum and a place where modern cruise ships dock.

Cuxhaven officially became a city on March 15, 1907. Later, in 1937, it became its own special district. In 1977, it joined a larger rural district, but it remained the main town.

During the First World War, a nearby airbase called Nordholz was a major station for German airships. On Christmas Day in 1914, it was attacked by British seaplanes. During the Second World War, Cuxhaven was a base for a German radio network. After the war, between 1945 and 1964, scientists did many rocket experiments near Cuxhaven.

Fun for Tourists

The fishing harbor by the Fischmarkt

Bürgermeister O'Swald II was the world's largest manned lightship. It is now a B&B in Cuxhaven.

A shrimp cutter returns

Cuxhaven station from the west

People have been coming to Cuxhaven for holidays since 1816, when it became a seaside resort. Since 1964, Cuxhaven has been officially recognized as a "climate seaside resort." This means it's a great place to visit for your health and relaxation, especially because of its fresh sea air! It's the main town in a holiday area called Cuxland.

Geography and Culture

You can easily get to Cuxhaven by train, as it has its own station.

The island of Neuwerk is about 8 kilometers (5 miles) off the coast. When the tide is low, the water goes out so far that you can actually walk or take a horse carriage across the mudflats to reach the island! It's a unique adventure.

A modern landmark in Cuxhaven is the Friedrich-Clemens-Gerke Tower. This is a tall concrete telecommunication tower. You can't go inside it, but it's a noticeable part of the skyline.

Sister Cities

Cuxhaven is "twinned" with several other cities around the world. This means they have special friendly relationships and often share cultural exchanges.

Binz, Germany (since 1990)
Hafnarfjörður, Iceland (since 1988)
Penzance, England, United Kingdom (since 1967, then again from 2009)
Sassnitz, Germany (since 1990)
Vannes, France (since 1963)

Famous People from Cuxhaven

Carsten Niebuhr

Many interesting people have come from Cuxhaven:

Carsten Niebuhr (1733–1815), a mathematician, mapmaker, and explorer.
Joachim Ringelnatz (1883–1934), a poet, performer, and painter. There's even a museum in Cuxhaven dedicated to him!
Francis Dutton (1818–1877), who became the 7th leader of South Australia.
Anna Strohsahl (1885–1953), the first woman to be a city councilor in Cuxhaven.
Constantin Schreiber (born 1979), a journalist and author.

Sports Stars

Jochen Fraatz (born 1963), a handball player who won a silver medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics.
Gunnar Sauer (born 1964), a footballer who played over 300 matches.
Lena Petermann (born 1994), a female footballer who has played many matches, including for the German national team.

Climate

Cuxhaven has an oceanic climate. This means it has mild temperatures throughout the year, with cool summers and mild winters, and rain spread out evenly.

Cuxhaven facts for kids

Contents