BELGIUM AND THE NETHERLANDS  and  GERMANY’S WILD COAST

 

Wide sandy beaches, wild storms, the vast Wadden Sea – the European North Sea coast is surprisingly diverse: from the rugged Shetland Islands to the marshes of the English Norfolk Broads, from flat Halligen islands to the archipelago off the Norwegian South Cape, it always reveals new colors and a rich animal world. The 6-part series presents the unique natural and cultural landscapes of the North Sea countries of Scotland, England, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Norway in breathtaking images. Here, people live from and with the sea.

It used to be called the “German Sea”, also known as the “West Sea”. And each of the eight countries bordering the sea – Scotland, England, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Norway – has given it its own name. In total, almost 100 million people live and work on and with the North Sea. The North Sea has been an important trade route since the Middle Ages and remains so to this day. The coastal region is a magnet for people who love the sea and want to live with it – and not just as tourists. These are fishermen and sailors who know and appreciate currents, waves and winds. The riches of the sea brought them prosperity, contact with strangers and sometimes even death. The North Sea also shows its potential inland. The rivers are routes for trade and fish migration and connect the people and animals of the hinterland with the open sea and its opportunities.

The journey along the coasts from Scotland to Norway shows us different landscapes. Perhaps the most important is the Wadden Sea UNESCO World Heritage Site with its globally significant biodiversity over an area of around 11,500 km, which connects the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark. Its preservation is a matter close to the hearts of all those who are involved in nature conservation for large and small inhabitants of the Wadden Sea or who study the flocks of migratory birds every year. With opulent images of the many small wonders of nature by the sea, but above all with spectacular aerial shots and up-close encounters with very special people on the coast, this visually stunning 6-part documentary tells the story of “Life on the North Sea”.

 


 

DOCUMENTARY SERIES 4K 2x (6) 43/52 Min
IN COOPERATION WITH ZDF/ARTE
WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY Susanne Utzt/Jana Schulze
PRODUCED BY Vincent Productions