Luxury spa in Horumersiel: Wangerland is fighting for the future of tourism!

Luxury spa in Horumersiel: Wangerland is fighting for the future of tourism!

The Friesland-Therme in Horumersiel has announced its closure, which will take effect on September 1, 2025. This decision has far-reaching consequences for popular sports and hoteliers in the region, who rely on high visitor numbers. The reason for the closure is the sharp increase in construction costs for the planned Thalasso Marine Spa, whose original costs have grown from 8.9 million euros to around 23 million euros. Wangerland Tourismus GmbH (WTG), a subsidiary of the municipality, planned the spa as a sustainable source of income to stimulate tourism, but now finds itself in financial difficulties.

WTG cites several factors as reasons for the increase in costs, including the pandemic, the energy crisis and unforeseeable circumstances. These developments have not only increased construction costs, but have also led to a broad discussion within the local council. Critics accuse WTG of having too high equipment standards and expensive special requests, for example tiles and special lighting elements costing over a million euros, which have contributed to the financial misery.

Self-administration insolvency

In June, WTG filed for bankruptcy under self-administration, which resulted in court supervision for the upcoming restructuring. A responsible court has not yet decided on the insolvency application. In the meantime, properties and land, including the seawater pool and the campsite in Hooksiel, will be offered to external investors. This represents a strategic decision by WTG to open up new sources of financing in the current situation.

The former managing director of WTG is moving to a company that markets the properties. However, according to WTG, he is not active in the affected business area. The administration of the municipality proposes to carefully examine the situation and consider whether insolvency under WTG's self-administration is a viable option. Mayor Mario Szlezak emphasizes the urgency of the situation and the need for responsible action.

Financial support and future plans

The discussion in the local council focuses on two main options: The first option would be to financially support WTG through a letter of comfort of up to 10 million euros. The second option is to file for self-administration bankruptcy. This would mean that the municipality would have less influence on the WTG, as the renovation would then be in the hands of the new managing director Torsten Riedel, who took over the office at the end of April 2025.

The ongoing discussion also raises the possibility that a renovation could require separation of company-owned properties, such as bathrooms and guest houses. The reason for the high construction costs is not only economic factors, but also increases in the price of building materials, which are due, among other things, to the war in Ukraine.

The municipality has already granted liquidity loans of 5.9 million euros and bank guarantees of 3.7 million euros, but it remains unclear whether it can bear further financial burdens. Skeptics warn that additional subsidies could jeopardize the community's planned major projects. As the community finds itself in a critical phase, the future of Wangerland tourism and its projects is being put to the test. These developments will continue to be monitored closely, particularly with regard to their impact on the regional economy.

WTG faces an enormous challenge, and the next steps will be crucial in securing the tourism infrastructure in the Wangerland region. The coming political decisions could have a lasting impact on both the financial situation and the tourist appeal of the community.

For more information please visit NDR and Hooksiel Life.