Siel – North Sea vacationers will have heard the term “Siel” before.
For example, vacation regions such as Greetsiel, Neuharlingersiel, Bensersiel and Harlesiel end with it.
But what is a siel?
A sluice can be described as a dyke sluice or underground sewer with the aim of coastal protection.
A more detailed explanation and examples follow here!
Camping Ratgeber:
Definition: What is a sluice on the North Sea?
In the past, dykes were built to protect against the floods of the North Sea.
So that this water could be diverted back towards the sea, dyke sluices were created to protect the coast.
Such a sluice or water passage in a dyke is called a “sluice”.
They channel the water from a drainage ditch through the dyke into the North Sea.
However, no seawater reaches the inland because they can be closed.
While they close due to a higher sea level and therefore higher pressure from the sea, they open due to higher pressure from the inland side.
Definition of a sluice:
- Water culvert in a dike
- Can be closed
- Diverts water from drainage ditch into the North Sea
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What types of sieves are there?
The ending “siel”, which can be found in some North Sea towns, means that there is a harbor in the town.
Most of these places also have a ferry port or several small harbors.
From here, ferries or freighters sail to the North Sea islands, as well as fishing boats used to catch crabs and fish in the Wadden Sea.
Holidaymakers can also take boat trips into the Wadden Sea or the North Sea from these ports.
Neuharlingersiel, for example, is the gateway for Spiekeroog, Harlesiel for Wangerooge, Bensersiel for Langeoog and Neßmersiel for Baltrum.
Where does the name Siel come from?
The term “Siel” probably goes back to the Frisian verb “seihen”.
This simply means “a place where water can flow out”.
Explanation and example Bensersiel
Not quite sure if you have fully understood what a siel is?
Then take another look at the following video with more detailed explanations and examples.
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