Theme: The Health of the Sea – Science, Sustainability and the Future of Thalasso in Europe On 12 May 2026, the ESPA Thalasso Working Group will convene in Varna, Bulgaria - a distinguished Thalasso destination on the Black Sea coast. The working group, initiated by Marlies Sobczak (ESPA Board Member, NL) and supported by Wilhelm Loth (Director, Staatsbad Norderney, DE), brings together European experts committed to...

Texel can officially call itself a healing seaside resort ESPA has formal confirmed that Texel meets the criteria for a Thalasso Health Destination in accordance with the generally accepted European guidelines. This means that Texel is officially recognized as a destination where health, well-being, and prevention are central, in line with the quality and health standards applied across Europe for Thalasso health regions. The recognition was...

20 - 22 February 2026, Nordeney, Germany Under the scientific direction of Dr Friedhart Raschke, the professional supervision of Thalassotherapy Coordinator Anja Raschke, and osteopath and licensed naturopath Karin Rass, the next Thalassotherapy seminar will take place from Friday, 20 February to Sunday, 22 February 2026. Each year, therapists, physicians, and interested participants gain new insights and a deeper understanding of thalassotherapy.What exactly is thalassotherapy? How is it applied? How...

The European Spa Association plays a key role in unifying standards and sharing experience across countries The importance of medical spas and health resorts within European healthcare is growing, especially as chronic diseases affect up to a quarter of the population. Traditional medicine alone cannot meet the long-term needs of these patients, while health resorts offer a unique combination of physical therapy, rehabilitation, well-being, and...

The Thalasso working group, led by Marlies Sobczak, is working closely with the researchers at Ghent University. Prof. Jana Asselman and her colleagues were involved in the Thalasso online workshop in April 2025. Education plays a crucial role in addressing the plastic pollution problem. Through the #ErasmusMaris initiative of #JRC Geel (Håkan Emteborg and John Seghers) and #AyamSailing, led by Kamel Labibes, secondary school teachers are supported...

On October 21, the fifth meeting of experts from the ESPA Thalasso Working Group took place with 19 participants. Among them was the new ESPA President, Dr. Siyka Katsarova, who joined us from Brussels, where she attended a Global Tourism Forum to emphasise the role of the healthcare sector and European spas. “This Thalasso Working Group is a benchmark for health and wellness innovation. Because...

Tuesday, 21 October from 11.00 to 12.30 CET (am) Welcome to the 5th online workshop of the Thalasso Working Group! Participation at the event is free of charge. Please fill-out the Registration form to attend. PROGRAMME 11:00 - 11:10 Welcome address and introduction by Marlies Sobczak and Dr. Siyka Katsarova11:10 - 11:25 Dr. Marcus Wengel: "Minerals and Thalassotherapy"11:30 - 11:45 Ms. Claudia Wagner: "Thalasso for Today's Health...

The book is a comprehensive review of thalassotherapy and seawater cure, and the cosmeceuticals derived from marine algae as novel sources of cosmetic ingredients. This comprehensive text offers an in-depth exploration of the research and issues related to the use of seawater and marine environment for therapies, as well as the composition of cosmeceuticals derived from seaweed. With contributions from an international team of experts,...

Tuesday, 21 October from 11.00 to 12.30 (am) We are glad to announce the next online workshop of the Thalasso Working Group and the first speakers: Dr. Marcus Wengel from Prof. Dr. Biener GmbH will speak about minerals in thalassotherapy. His presentation begins with the ocean — a rich source of minerals that can influence human health in many ways. He will focus on selected minerals...

On April 16, the fourth meeting of experts in the field of Thalasso therapy took place. Since the first online meeting in spring 2024, the number of participating countries and specialists has continued to grow steadily. We now count 28 participants from 15 different countries. The workshop was organised by Ms. Marlies Sobczak, ESPA Board member in cooperation with Wilhelm Loth, Kurdirektion Staatsbad Norderney. This...

Join the next European Thalasso Exchange! We are also excited to invite you to our next Online Thalasso Workshop, an unmissable event for anyone passionate about the future of wellness. Join us on Wednesday, April 16, from 10:00 to 11:30 am – this is your chance to engage with key industry leaders and gain valuable insights into the cutting-edge developments in Thalasso therapy. Participation is...

From 15 – 17 April 2025 Varna will be hosting the first Thalasso Exchange The Thalasso working group, a joint initiative between ESPA and Staatsbad Norderney, is dedicated to advancing and professionalizing Thalassotherapy in the health and lifestyle sector. Led by Marlies Sobczak from the Netherlands and Mr Wilhelm Loth of Staatsbad Norderney, the group seeks to integrate Thalassotherapy more closely into European healthcare practices. With...