Hedwigenkoog Explained

Type:Gemeinde
Hedwigenkoog
Image Coa:DEU Hedwigenkoog COA.svg
Coordinates:54.1833°N 58°W
Image Plan:Hedwigenkoog in HEI.PNG
State:Schleswig-Holstein
District:Dithmarschen
Amt:Büsum-Wesselburen
Elevation:0
Area:16.36
Postal Code:25761
Area Code:04833, 04834
Licence:HEI
Gemeindeschlüssel:01 0 51 043
Mayor:Klaus Nicolay

Hedwigenkoog is a municipality belonging to the Amt ("collective municipality") Büsum-Wesselburen in the district Dithmarschen in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.

Hedwigenkoog is situated on the North Sea coast north of Büsum and Westerdeichstrich. It consists of 1600ha of marshland reclaimed from the sea (called a Koog in German) and protected with a dike in 1696 to secure the land connection between Büsum and Wesselburen. The first part of its name was adopted in honor of Hedvig Sophia of Sweden, wife of Duke Frederick IV of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp.

The coat of arms is a modified version of the duke's seal and shows a swan holding an eel. The animals in the original version were a stork and a snake; the eel refers to Ahlen.

Hedwigenkoog's economy is based on farming including organic farming and wind energy in combination with tourism. In recent years tourism was a growing industry, with some farms offering bed and breakfast facilities, farm shops and cafes.