After the Frisian and Danish colonisation of the islands in the 8th century, the Frisian-populated hundreds (between Eiderstedt and Sylt) became the Uthlande.

Only later did the Uthlande transfer to the Duchy of Schleswig, with the exception of small Danish royal enclaves.

In medieval times, the present-day peninsula Nordstrand and Pellworm as well as the Halligen were part of the large island of Strand.

Lager Sylt, the Nazi concentration camp on Alderney, was named after the island.

Compared with Sylt, Föhr (Fering North Frisian: Feer; Danish: Før) is a relatively silent island.

Amrum (Öömrang North Frisian: Oomram) is only 20 km², but it is popular with tourists, though less crowded than Sylt.

The names of the Halligen are Nordmarsch-Langeness, Norderoog, Süderoog, Nordstrandischmoor, Oland, Südfall, Gröde-Appelland, Hooge, Habel and the Hamburger Hallig.

West off the Halligen, three drying sandbanks form the so-called North Frisian Barrier Islands: Japsand, Norderoogsand and Süderoogsand.