Oldsum

Oldsum ( Frisian: Olersem ) is a municipality in the district of North Friesland Schleswig -Holstein.

Geography

Oldsum is in the northwest of the North Frisian island of Foehr.

The municipality consists of the three villages Oldsum Oldsum, Klintum ( Frisian: Klantem ) and Toftum ( Frisian: Taftem, 159 inhabitants), which extend over about two kilometers along the main road. The townscape is dominated by well-preserved, thatched farmhouses. The landmark of Oldsum is an old thatched windmill whose predecessor dates back to about 1700, burned down two hundred years later, rebuilt until 1954 and has been used since 1972 as a residence will use. The distance to the west coast of the island is about two kilometers to the north coast, it is a little less. To the south lies the community adjacent to Oldsum Süderende, southwest and east Dunsum Alkersum and Midlum.

History

Oldsum was first mentioned in 1462 as Uluersum. In the 17th century the village was an important whaling station. One of the most successful whaling commanders, born 1632 Matthias Petersen, lived in Oldsum. He began in his life 373 whales. His tomb lies today on the St. Laurentii Church in Süderende cemetery.

As part of Westerland Foehr among the three towns to the royal enclaves and were the Kingdom of Denmark directly belonging, whereas the claimant country Foehr Wyk with the Duchy of Schleswig belonged. Only after Denmark lost Schleswig to Prussia came these places 1864 Schleswig -Holstein. Here, the community Oldsum lost the south the village outlying village Süderende, which is an independent municipality since then. Since this cleavage has Oldsum south of Süderende a small enclave, which was not then slammed Süderende.

By 1970 Oldsum - Klintum and Toftum were independent communities. In 1970, she merged to today's congregation Oldsum.

Policy

Of the nine seats in the municipal council has the Oldsumer Wählergemeinschaft ( OWG ) since the local elections in 2013 seven seats. Two other seats hold individual candidate.

Economy

With the increase of tourism was particularly in Oldsum agriculture more and more into the background. Today there are only a few farms in the village. Some of them were resettled in the 1950s and 1960s from the village and outside the village, but still on the municipality. Oldsum took a transformation from a farming village to village artists. One finds numerous studios and galleries. Other important economic factors are a growing number of craft and retail.

Personalities

Sons and daughters of the town

• Matthias Petersen (1632-1706), as Matthias the lucky famous whalers
• Hinrich Braren (1751-1826), captain and teacher of navigation
• Oluf Braren (1787-1839), painter
• Friede Springer ( born 1942 ), majority owner of the Axel Springer Group