The Minsen Mermaid Statue - a Seewief from the Middle Ages

This monument was created in 1992 by Karin Mennen to preserve a legend from medieval times first written down in the 16th century. map

The Minsen Seewief. Photo by Erwin Willemsen.

The legend tells of a mermaid who was caught by fishermen, but was able to escape. In fits of revenge she destroyed the area – both Minsen and the larger Wangerland area – with severe storm floods (which have hit this part of Germany in 1164, 1362, 1717 and 1962).

The Wangerland coat of arms shows the mermaid with a finger raised in warning.