
The history of the island is exciting far into the last century. Helgoland was a sea fortress, a pirate’s nest, an important base for sea pilots and, at the beginning of the 18th century, even the largest goods handling center in Europe.
Helgoland was besieged and was Danish from 1714. But already in 1807 the island became British. In 1826 Jacob Andresen Siemens founded the seaside resort. It was not until the “Treaty on Colonies and Heligoland” of 1890 that Heligoland was handed over to Germany. The island was also involved in the world wars as a naval base. In 1947, the British even attempted to destroy Helgoland’s military installations with the largest non-nuclear detonation. It was not until 1952 that the island was returned to Germany and repopulation could begin. Soon after, in 1961, the town hall was completed. It still bears witness to Helgoland’s distinctive history and informs visitors about the exciting historical events by means of an information board. But important in the history were also the people, the visitors and inhabitants of Helgoland. Early on, the notables of Central Europe took a cure on the island, while foreign fleets fought sea battles within sight.