Husum is a town at the western coast of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is the capital of the Kreis (district) Nordfriesland. Population: 21,000.

Husum is most famous for being the birthplace of the novelist Theodor Storm. He coined the epithet "the grey town at the sea". Like most towns at the North Sea, Husum was ever strongly influenced by storm tides. It is first mentioned 1252, when here was the Danish castle of Husumbro, where king Abel was murdered. In 1362 a disastrous storm tide flooded the town and carved out the inland harbour. Prior to this date Husum was not situated directly at the coast. Today Husum is a tourist resort and a gate to the North Frisian Islands.

Sights in Husum:

  • Marienkirche (Saint Mary), collapsed 1807, re-erected 1833
  • Castle, 1582, was a residence of the Dukes of Gottorf
  • Town hall, 1601
  • Residential house of Theodor Storm
  • North Frisian ship museum