Alte Räucherei am Hafen

Neuharlingersiel itself isn't really my thing, but this house, its location, and the lovely garden made it special. We were three generations there for a week and wished we could have stayed longer. It's spotlessly clean, full of character, and stylish without being fussy. The warm floors, wooden boards and pretty tiles, fan-shaped antique mirrors, and little windows in the walls and doors make it feel really thoughtful. Even the stove is a feast for the eyes. The dishes and cutlery are practical and high quality. The cozy sleeping alcoves were wonderful, and the little eat-in kitchen is dreamy. Upstairs, the floor with its nine (!!) small leaded windows was a dream playroom for the kids and teenagers, with books, games, an audio player, and a cozy pirate rug. We cooked there every day because the house and garden were just too cozy to leave for a restaurant. The location makes getting around easy. You can walk down to the charming harbor from one side, and a pretty garden gate leads straight onto the dike. The children were already running around on their own at the beach early in the morning. At 7:00 a.m., we could get delicious warm homemade chocolate rolls, whole-wheat spelt rolls, and fresh eggs from the baker's grandmother's chickens at Johann Hinrich's bakery across the street. We shopped by bike at the well-stocked Edeka supermarket, and my son jogged alongside before going for a swim in a lovely little lake. In the evenings, the beach bar was a great place to watch the stunning sunsets. There's a variety of seating and places to lie down, plus homemade throwing and skill games. We mostly just "dry-surfed" on the surfboard and its accompanying roller. Bring scooters for the kids, kites, a boules set, mud socks, and a good shovel. A small boat or air mattress is handy at low tide, though most things are easy to buy at Edeka. There were a few downsides. Noise from the adjacent Dattein, a quaint pub, kept us on the first floor awake until about 11 p.m. The parking lot on the path between the dikes and beach is ugly and dangerous for children playing freely. Leaving lights on in the house in the evenings brings mosquitoes and midges out at night, so mosquito nets on the windows and garden door would help. A few board games in the living room would be nice, and we had to hide the fancy TV on the kids' floor ; ). There are also horses nearby to visit, playgrounds and trampoline parks, and guided mudflat hikes. We had such a lovely time here. A big compliment to the owner of the old smokehouse!

It's a stunningly beautiful house, furnished in a very authentic style. Right on the harbor, the location couldn't be better. I'd happily give it more than 5 stars.

We enjoyed every day in the holiday home "Alte Räucherei" and came back feeling refreshed after a week in Neuharlingersiel. We already miss it. The view over the harbor and the Wadden Sea from upstairs was special, and the boxy beds in the sleeping alcove felt so safe and snug that we slept better than at home. It's such a cozy spot for an afternoon nap during a storm, with freezing cold outside. The house is quaint and charming, but has all the modern amenities for a relaxing holiday. The contactless key handover was a positive experience during COVID. We only spoke with Ms. Gerstmeier by phone, but she was warm and friendly, and we're sure meeting in person would have been just as pleasant and informative. Thanks so much for the stay in your beautiful house. Best regards.