Dithmarschen

Dithmarschen is a rural district (Kreis) in the state of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Its administrative seat is the town of Heide. The district lies on the North Sea coast in the western part of Schleswig-Holstein, bordered by the Elbe estuary to the south and by parts of the Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park along its coast. The landscape is flat and low-lying, dominated by marshes and reclaimed land with a system of dikes and drainage channels. Agriculture is the main economic activity, with extensive vegetable farming and greenhouse horticulture, as well as dairy farming and some coastal fishing. The Kiel Canal ends at Brunsbüttel within the district, linking the North Sea with the Baltic Sea and serving as a major transportation hub.

Historically, Dithmarschen was the Land of Dithmarschen, an autonomous peasant republic that governed itself through local assemblies from the late Middle Ages until its incorporation into the Prussian province of Schleswig-Holstein in 1872, following the broader Schleswig-Holstein conflicts. This period is noted for its distinctive self-administration and legal traditions within the region.

Notable towns in the district include Heide (the capital), Brunsbüttel, Meldorf, Marne and Wöhrden. The western coast forms part of the UNESCO-listed Wadden Sea World Heritage area, and the district's coastline features tidal flats and rich bird habitats. The combination of agricultural traditions, coastal geography, and historical autonomy contributes to the region’s characteristic cultural and environmental landscape.