The Mud Olympics (Wattolympiade) in Brunsbüttel, Germany, is one of Europe’s quirkiest and most entertaining festivals — an annual sporting event on the North Sea mudflats where teams compete in bizarre disciplines like mud football, handcart racing, and eel wrestling in the sticky grey silt of the Wadden Sea UNESCO World Heritage site. Held each summer since 2004 alongside the Wattstock Music Festival, this gloriously messy celebration attracts thousands of spectators to the Schleswig-Holstein coast and has become one of northern Germany’s most photographed — and filthiest — cultural events.
Quick Facts: Mud Olympics, Brunsbüttel
- When: Annually in July or August (check the Brunsbüttel tourism website for exact dates)
- Where: The Wadden Sea mudflats at Brunsbüttel, at the mouth of the Kiel Canal, Schleswig-Holstein, northern Germany
- How to get there: ~1.5 hours from Hamburg by car (A23); ~2 hours from Kiel; Brunsbüttel is accessible by train + bus
- Combine with: The Wadden Sea National Park (UNESCO), the Kiel Canal (the world’s busiest artificial waterway), and the maritime town of Cuxhaven
The Mud Olympics with Wattstock Music Festival in Germany is a famous music festival that usually takes place in late August in the Brunsbüttel town, located on the north-western part of Germany, and lies on the mouth of the Elbe river.
There are several sport games during Olympics where everyone can join (if you reserve places in advance) e.g.:
- Mud Football
- Mud Tug-o-war
- Mud cycling
- Mud volleyball
- Mud Handball
- Mud skiing
- Mud snorkeling and much more
The dates for 2011 are the weekend of July 23rd with the music festival on Saturday 23rd July and the Mud Olympics on Sunday 24th July.
These are the German mud olympics; “Wattolümpiade Brunsbüttel” The most popular event is mud football. There’s also mud skiing and bicycle races. Prizes are provided for sporting performances, prizes are awarded in such bizarre categories as Funniest Team Name, Best Fans, and Funniest Team.
If you want to see the craziest mud festival in Europe, do not miss this opportunity.
View Mud Olympics and Wattstock Music Festival in Brunsbüttel, Germany in a larger map
Have you participated in the Mud Olympics or discovered Germany’s quirky festivals? Share your muddy adventures in the comments! 🏉
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