Nature vacation on Usedom

Shallow waters, floating suites and delicacies from the region

Author: Annette Rübesamen
Published: March 31, 2025

Houseboats and sailing boats moored in Krummin harbor — ©© TMV/Tiemann

Naturhafen Krummin makes guests happy with special accommodation offers. And with fine cuisine from the region.

How peaceful it is on this early September morning in the natural harbor of Krummin.

Reeds sway softly in the wind. The boats moored to the jetties sway gently on the water. On the harbor terrace, climbing roses climb up the gray, weathered larch wood façade. It smells of steaming coffee, which operations manager Fenja Saathoff pours into hand-poured cups: „Now it's time for breakfast.“

The Krummin natural harbor is a very special harbor. It is located on the Krumminer Wiek, a nature reserve on the tranquil Usedom Achterwasser. A long, old and enchantingly beautiful avenue of lime trees leads from Usedom's main road down to the small village of Krummin and into a friendly little vacation world where time seems to have stood still. And where a completely different rhythm prevails than in the island's lively seaside resorts. The natural harbor of Krummin consists of a four-star marina with 160 berths and a restaurant, making it the largest marina on the entire island. But apart from that, the makers of Krummin have nothing to do with superlatives and records. Sustainability and closeness to nature are much more important to them - as the name suggests. The two jetties are mainly used by sailing boats, guaranteeing peace and quiet and fresh air. Guests can also stay in floating suites for a relaxing weekend, which are firmly anchored to the jetties and built from larch wood and other natural materials.

The floating suites in the Krummin natural harbor from the inside with couch, TV and view of the terrace with seating — ©© TMV/Tiemann

Floating suites: Comfort at its best

„When we came up with the suites, we had couples in mind who wanted to take a few days off. Who want to get away from it all“, says Frank Schmidt, Managing Director of Naturhafen Krummin. These guests can now look forward to comfort of the cosiest kind in floating vacation accommodation: there are wooden floors, elegant designer interiors and plenty of light that floods in through large windows. Some suites have a cozy fireplace, others have their own sauna. You can look directly out over the water from your bed. And the best thing of all: the private outdoor seating at the stern, where you can relax in lounge chairs and almost feel like you're in the Okavango Delta in Botswana with a view of the protected reed beds and their birdlife.

„Is it possible to cruise through the Achterwasser with the floating suites?“, I ask Frank. He smiles: „The suites are built according to the houseboat principle, that's right. And in principle, you could also sail with the once-quaint suites. But they are so difficult to maneuver that we prefer not to.“ For those who want to get out on the water, the Krummin natural harbour offers plenty of other options: guided canoe and kayak tours, for example, or family trips with treasure hunts in electric motorboats. Sailing trips on a 100-year-old Zeesen boat are also possible. The traditional Usedom fishing boat with its red-brown sails is steered by captain Rika Harder; she cruises with her guests across the Peenestrom and Krumminer Wieck - particularly atmospheric at sunset.

The natural harbor of Krummin with boats and houseboats from the air. — ©© TMV/Gänsicke

Quiet, green, peaceful: the natural harbor of Krummin on Usedom

Even the physalis come from the region

However, it's still early morning in the natural harbor of Krummin. Fenja and Frank, her boss, sit down to breakfast before the business gets underway. On the table is what the guests of the suites and the marina can also order: Cheese from nearby Züssow, venison salami from the hunting butcher in the village next door, apple juice from the cidery in Postlow, eggs from Freest. „But surely the physalis in the yogurt comes from Thailand? “, we want to know. Frank and Fenja laugh. „No, they are grown by a qualified biologist in Greifswald“. Regional products and short distances are fundamental to the philosophy of Naturhafen Krummin. The employees also sometimes contribute to the menu. They bring fresh walnuts from the garden, pears or even home-made jam," Fenja enthuses. Minimizing waste and avoiding plastic are also extremely important to Frank and Fenja. Not just for breakfast, but for everything else too. „At our traditional harbor festival, where singers and songwriters perform, we have never used plastic tableware“, Frank proudly explains.

Frank and Fenja are sitting in the new cane-roofed breakfast house, a light-filled building with lots of glass and wood. The guests of the floating suites and the marina can not only have breakfast here, but also all other meals. If they don't prefer to sit outside in good weather and appropriate temperatures, they can do so on the large harbor terrace, where the day guests are also seated. But no matter where, it always tastes good. Whether it's the home-cooked Baltic salmon or the „Wiek Burger“ made from Pomeranian Duroc pork, Baltic salmon and homemade onion jam. The game dishes are always something very special – venison, deer, wild boar and sometimes ducks. Delivered by the Krumminer Betrieb „Usedomer Wild“, which is located close to the natural harbor and is run by the two veterans Hans-Martin and Michael Fröhlich. It really doesn't get more regional than this.

A couple sits at a lavishly laid breakfast table in the natural harbor of Krummin. — ©© TMV/Tiemann

The harbor terrace of the Krummin natural harbor — ©© TMV/Tiemann

Satisfied employees spread a good mood

„We want to offer an authentic Usedom“, says Frank and finishes his coffee. For him, sustainability also includes details that guests don't see at first glance: LED lamps and water parks, for example. Or that the employees come from the region wherever possible. Guests can tell immediately that they enjoy working at Naturhafen. Everyone is very friendly and attentive. Which in turn ensures a truly sustainable vacation experience.