Klixbüll: The climate-neutral village with innovative ideas and solutions!

Klixbüll: The climate-neutral village with innovative ideas and solutions!

In Klixbüll, a charming village in North Frisia with around 1,000 inhabitants, sustainability is very important. In his documentary series “Dibaba tells village stories,” Yared Dibaba takes viewers on a journey of discovery through this model village. The episode will air on July 11th and 12th, 2025 and focuses on the villagers' impressive commitment to environmental protection and social justice. Klixbüll has proven itself to be climate-neutral for over ten years and produces an impressive 30 times more energy than it needs. A central point of this sustainable lifestyle is the DörpsCampus, which creates numerous opportunities for community in the village.

The DörpsCampus, which opened on December 1, 2015, is a true heart of Klixbüll. With its combination of school, kindergarten, football pitch and common areas, it offers a wide range of opportunities for all age groups. The project was 55% funded by AKTIV REGION NORD, and the interior furnishings came from generous donations from the village community. The large cafeteria room, which serves as a dining room for school and kindergarten children, can be designed more flexibly and can be connected to the adjacent gymnasium to accommodate up to 250 people for events. In addition, the so-called “athletes’ home” on the first floor serves as a popular meeting place for small groups after sports.

A look behind the scenes

In Klixbüll, Yared Dibaba shows a good knack for regional cuisine and cooks her famous lentil Bolognese with Martina, a passionate cook. The experience at the DörpsCampus is also complemented by sporting activities, as Dibaba takes part in a body fitness course under the guidance of Heidi Kretzschmar and Daniel Johannsen. These events not only promote fitness, but also community cohesion.

But the village has even more to offer: in the immediate vicinity is the former NATO air base in Leck, which is currently being converted for civilian use. Werner Schweizer has the vision of a sustainable air park from which air taxis could fly to Sylt or Lübeck. Dibaba also witnessed this innovative idea when he took a sightseeing flight over Klixbüll with Schweizer. A highlight of this episode is the unique flying wind turbine, which works with a kite at heights of up to 750 meters and feeds green energy into the grid.

Part of the change

Climate-neutral communities, like Klixbüll, are part of a larger movement that has formed under the “Living in Sustainable Villages” project. In collaboration with the Federal Environment Agency and GEN Deutschland e. V., various villages were guided to provide development impulses and to meet challenges such as emigration and aging. Klixbüll demonstrates that such approaches not only increase the quality of life, but also contribute to the preservation of the cultural landscape and ecological diversity.

In short, Klixbüll is a true role model when it comes to how creativity and community spirit can shape a sustainable future. Yared Dibaba, who was awarded the Bremen Digital and Television Prize in 2024, brings us closer to the inspiring stories of this village life with his report. Anyone who is curious about the people and ideas behind these successes should not miss the next episode of his series.