Sailors in the Flensburg Fjord will still be allowed to cross part of the nature reserve at the narrow section off the Holnis peninsula in the coming years. WSA Ostsee today (5 December 2025) announced a general ruling that partially lifts the ban on sailing in the "Holnis Peninsula" nature reserve for vessels under sail.
The exemption applies to a defined area in the north-west of the nature reserve (see image) and is effective from 1 April to 31 October. The regulation will remain in force until 31 October 2027, thus creating planning security for water sports enthusiasts in the region for several years. It extends an identical regulation from previous years, which expired on 31 October 2025.
Navigation advantages in confined sea areas
The cancellation of the traffic ban affects a precisely defined area that is limited by three coordinate points:
54° 52,964' N, 009° 35,377' E
54° 52,882' N, 009° 36,003' E
54° 52,638' N, 009° 35,124' E .
The spit of the Holnis peninsula makes the area to the north of it a bottleneck for sailors on their way to or from Flensburg, especially as the manoeuvring space is restricted by large rocks at the edges. The boundaries of the nature reserve protrude far into the fjord at this point and further restrict manoeuvring options. The justification for the general ruling therefore states: "Compliance with the manoeuvring ban would lead to unintended hardship for vessels under sail only. Due to the geographically confined area northwest of the Holnis peninsula's spit hook, the prohibition of navigation further reduces the space available for manoeuvring, especially when tacking and evading."
Despite the relaxation of the navigation ban, water sports enthusiasts should prioritise nature conservation. The general ruling therefore contains the explicit requirement that a sufficient distance must be kept from bird gatherings in order to avoid disturbance.
But beware: Those travelling under motor must steer clear of the area all year round and under sail in winter. However, its boundaries are not visible on all electronic nautical charts. Navionics Boating, for example, does not even show this area as a nature reserve, which could tempt boaters to sail in the area all year round.
