The dunes on the German Baltic coast are an elementary part of flood protection. And Boltenhagen needs it. The measure of all things is still the devastating flood that completely destroyed large parts of the Baltic resort in 1872. Since the historic storm surge brought with it the highest water level ever measured in the German Baltic Sea, its water level is used as the basis for calculating coastal protection structures.
Dunes planted with marram grass, which binds and solidifies sand, are not allowed to be walked on. This is also the case with the protective dune in Boltenhagen, which was previously 370 cm high - and thus 80 cm too low for the coastal protection requirements. The state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania therefore wants to raise the flood protection dune.
The serious problem for Boltenhagen: After raising the dune, guests and locals walking on the existing beach promenade would have had to forego the last unobstructed view of the Baltic Sea, which is already very rare in Boltenhagen.