The Old Pier, Spiekeroog (German: Alter Anleger) was a former landing pier on the East Frisian island of Spiekeroog, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It served as part of the island's historic ferry infrastructure and was connected to the village by the Spiekeroog island railway, including its earlier horse-drawn phase. After the opening of the modern harbour of Spiekeroog in 1981, the former landing place lost its transport function and became known as the “Old Pier”.
History
Spiekeroog's landing facilities developed gradually in response to the difficult tidal conditions of the island. A landing pier was inaugurated on 8 August 1891. According to maritime documentation, timber from the wrecked Finnish bark Neptun, stranded near Spiekeroog in 1890, was used for its construction.
For many decades, access between the landing place and the island settlement depended on rail transport. Regional tourism material states that the former ferry landing in the west of the island was served by the island's horse railway, while the transport history of Spiekeroog is closely associated with the later island railway system as well.
The western landing place remained important into the twentieth century. The final major historical change came with the construction of a new harbour for Spiekeroog. Maritime records note that the harbour was officially opened on 29 May 1981. After this date, the former landing facility at the western end of the island ceased to function as the principal point of arrival and departure for ferries.
Later use and legacy
After the harbour opened in 1981, the former pier became known locally as the Old Pier (Alter Anleger). Tourism sources describe it as a place where only remnants of the former ferry landing were still visible in later years.
The site later formed part of the protected natural landscape of western Spiekeroog. National Park information on the island notes that the western end of Spiekeroog is an important breeding area for coastal birds, including the little tern and the ringed plover, and that the path section leading to the Old Pier is closed during the breeding and rearing season in order to protect these species.
Today, the Old Pier survives mainly as a historical place name and excursion destination, recalling Spiekeroog's earlier ferry and railway infrastructure before the establishment of the modern harbour.