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Municipality of Sylt (Germany)

Gemeinde Sylt [Frisian: Söl], Kreis Nordfriesland, Schleswig-Holstein

Last modified: 2012-12-04 by klaus-michael schneider
Keywords: sylt municipality | sylt island | westerland | rantum | sylt-ost | lighthouse | inescutcheon | herring | sun(rising) | star(8-point) |
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[ (Sylt Island, Krs. Nordfriesland, Germany)] 2:3 image by Stefan Schwoon,, 17 Nov 2012
flag of former City of Westerland

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Introduction of the Muncipality of Sylt

On 1 Jabuary 2009 the municipalities of Rantum (Sylt) and Sylt-Ost merged with the city of Westerland forming the new muncipality of Sylt. This entity has not yet city rights and no proper flag. The town hall in Westerland is also seat of the Landschaft-Sylt Subcounty (Amt Landschaft-Sylt). All entities described below have been dissolved on 31 December 2008.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 22 Nov 2012

City of Westerland (until 2008)

Westerland City Flag

Description of flag:
The ratio is 2:3. It is an armorial flag despite of the base.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 17 Nov 2012

Westerland City Flag acc. to Roll of Arms

[Municipality of Hörnum (Sylt) municipal flag] 2:3 image by Stefan Schwoon and Klaus-Michael Schneider, 17 Nov 2012

Description of flag#2: The ratio is 2:3. It is a blue over white over blue horizontal triband with ratio 1:7:1. In the centre of the white stripe is a modified version of the coat of arms. The rays coming out of a lighthouse are red and the base is replaced by two blue fesses wavy.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 17 Nov 2012

Westerland City Coat of Arms

Description of coat of arms:
In a silver (=white) shield is a red lighthouse masoned silver (= white) with windows golden (= yellow). The fire is sending six red and golden (= yellow) rays of light. The tower is superimposed by a bendy inescutcheon. The inescutcheon is divided per fess into plain silver (= white) above and blue with a silver (= white) herring below.
Meaning:
The colours blue, white and red are those of Schleswig-Holstein. The inescutcheon is the old coat of arms of Sylt Island based upon a seal from the 16th century. The herring (Danish: sild) is a canting element. The lighthouse is a local landmark. Frisians from the islands always had been sailors by nature. A lot of captains and helmsmen settled down here to invest their money. Since the 19th century Westerland changed from a fishermen's village to a spa. Due to the economic boom Westerland gained the rights of a city in 1905. The original coat of arms had been topped by a mural crown, which was abolished later.
Sources: Reißmann 1997 , p.365 and Stadler 1970, p.111

The flag was approved on 24 October 1955. The coat of arms was approved on 25 February 1907. Both were abolished on 31 December 2008. The artist is Adolf Matthias Hildebrandt from Berlin.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 17 Nov 2012

Muncipality of Rantum (Sylt)

The municipality of Rantum had no proper flag.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 22 Nov 2012

Muncipality of Sylt-Ost (until 2008)

Sylt-Ost Municipal Flag

[Municipality of Sylt-Ost municipal flag] 2:3 image by Stefan Schwoon, 17 Nov 2012

Description of flag: The ratio is 2:3. It is an armorial flag.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 17 Nov 2012

Sylt-Ost Municipal Coat of Arms

Description of coat of arms: The shield is divided per fess. Above in a golden (= yellow) field is a red rising sun with rays flanked by five blue 8-point stars ordered on a half circle. Below in a blue field is a silver herring.
Meaning:
The sun is symbolizing the sunrises on the shores of the Wadden Sea and also the oneness of the municipality. The stars are symbolizing the former municipalities of Keitum, Tinnum, Achsum, Morsum and Munkmarsch. The herring is acanting symbol of the whole island of Sylt and could be found on the seals of the local bailiffs in Tinnum since the 17th century. Yellow, blue and red are the colours of Northern Frisia.
Source: Municipal Roll of Arms Schleswig-Holstein Online

The flag was never approved officially but was used according to Hans van Heijningen (email from 18 April 2004) by the inhabitants. The coat of arms was approved on 27 February 2002 and abolished on 31 December 2008. The artist is Hubertus Jessel from Westerland.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 17 Nov 2012


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