Rantum is located south of Westerland. The name is frequently associated with the marine goddessRán (Rantum = Rán’s place). It is, however, more likely that the name derives from the old spelling of Raantem, i.e. “settlement at the edge”. Rantum today is located at the narrowest part of the island with a width of only 600 metres. East of the village are the Rantum-Inge, an ample area of salt marshes and the Wadden Sea. To the west, beyond the dunes, the beach faces the open North Sea.
The small village of Rantum has a colourful history. As Rantum was repeatedly destroyed by storm surges between 1362 and 1634 and had to be rebuilt in a different location each time, historical records are only preserved from the 17th century on. The oldest record of the name is found in a nautical chart from 1142, which is today displayed in Copenhagen. On the chart, the Rantum church Westerseekirche is noted as a daymark. It was called St. Peter. Well into the 18th century, Rantum was a stronghold of wreckers who looted ships for a living. In 1801, the people of Rantum had to move the village due to encroachment by the dunes. In 1825, the new village was destroyed by a flood. The location of the village kept moving eastward over time.
Rantum was designated Nordseebad in 1973. Tourism is the main source of income today. In 1977, the small Rantum Harbour was created as a tidally independent marina. Importantly were the 1990s, in which an extension of the season over the few summer weeks could be achieved. Just off the demolition threatened by storm surges dune is the thatched Sölring Hof. The hotel is now awarded for the good kitchen with two Guide Michelin stars. Just north of the village, in June 2007 the so-called TUI Village Hotel with about 600 beds in 159 apartments was opened.
Today, the Rantum Basin is a bird sanctuary with more than 60 species to be counted. Since 1962, this has been a protected nature preserve. Since 1993, the Sylt-Quelle (Sylt Well) has been pumping mineral water containing iodine for bottling. This water is marketed across the island and can also be tapped on the spot by customers. The brand is offered by restaurants across Germany. In the adjacent Kunstraum Sylt-Quelle, exhibitions, lectures, public discussions and stage plays take place. In addition, this has become the venue for the Meerkabaretts, the Sea Cabaret, which annually features various artists during the summer season. The Wadden Sea Conservation Station (Schutzstation Wattenmeer) operates a branch office in Rantum which provides information on coastal management, the Wadden Sea, the salt marshes and offers guided mudflat hikings.
