Do you ever wonder what the edge of the world might look like? It would probably be a steep cliff from which wide views of the sea open out. There exists a place of such extraordinary beauty on the coast of Lithuania. The Dutchman’s Hat is one of the most visited pearls of nature in our country, and undoubtedly the most famous hat in the Baltic States.
Why Dutch?
Many people wonder why the cliff between Klaipėda and Karklė has acquired such an unusual name. When it is seen from the sea, the hill is shaped like a traditional Dutch hat. That is why as early as 1818 the hill acquired the official name the Dutchman’s Hat (it is sometimes called the Dutchmen’s Hat).
However, there are other theories. A number of Dutch people settled in and around Klaipėda in the 1520s and 1530s. Craftsmen and carpenters opened the first shipyards in the city. From 1540, the owner of the cliff and the surrounding land was a Dutchman called Hermann van Bombell. It is believed that the merchants who sailed to Klaipėda nicknamed the cliff the ‘Dutchman’s Hat’, referring not just to Dutch people, but to Hermann, the owner of these lands.
The Dutchman’s Hat Landscape Reserve in the Seaside Regional Park covers an area of 123 hectares. The cliff overlooking Baltic Sea and its natural surroundings are protected. It is said that the Dutchman’s Hat dune could have formed around 12,000 to 15,000 years ago when the glaciers were receding.
At the end of the 19th century, a park was created in these picturesque places during the greening of the Giruliai coast: oak, beech, broadleaf sycamore, and decorative trees were planted. Today, the surroundings of the cliff are perfect for long walks, and several significant routes wind their way through the area, such as the Sea Path, the St James’ Way in Western Lithuania, health paths, etc.
Of course, the highlight of all these walking routes is the cliff of the Dutchman’s Hat, which rises to 24.4 metres. It is constantly being eroded by the battle of the waves, and descends to the seashore by a slope 16 to 18 metres high. The cliff offers an amazingly beautiful view: it is said that this might be the best place in all of Lithuania to watch the setting sun. With its sea and sand, ships sailing by in the distance, a pleasant wind, pebbles on the beach, and fresh air, it is truly idyllic.
A Cognitive Path in the Land of the Curonian Spit
There is also a ‘new’ hill-fort very close to the Dutchman’s Hat cliff. Why is it ‘new’? It was found in 2016 by Darius Stončius, a biologist, and doctor of ecology and environmental science. During the excavations and archaeological research, it was established that the Kukuliškiai hill-fort is the oldest in western Lithuania, and dates back as far as the Bronze Age. Fragments of ceramic pots, pieces of unprocessed amber, and bovine teeth have been found in the cultural layer. The remains of poles and a fireplace have been found; however, many things have decayed badly in the soil.
Archaeologists believe that the place was once inhabited by the Curonians, but the settlement was destroyed around the 17th or 18th century. Today, the ecological educational Litorina Trail goes through the area, past the ditches and embankments. Why hike this trail? Because it opens up a lot of amazingly beautiful views. The cognitive path also leads past the cliff of the Dutchman’s Hat, and also past the famous swing on the cliff. So if you enjoy active leisure and want to spend a meaningful day on the Lithuanian coast, we recommend you go on the hiking trail. Only don’t forget to linger for a while on the Dutchman’s Hat. It doesn’t matter if you have already visited the place a few times before, the view is always stunning.
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