In 1992 and 1993, the heathland vegetation on the East Frisian Islands (North- West-Germany), that is dominated by Empetrum nigrum L. was analyzed according to the Braun-Blanquet approach. All of the examined heaths belong to the Carici arenariae- Empetretum Tx. et Kawamura 1975 (Empetrion boreale, Nardo-Callune- tea). On the basis of 517 vegetation relevés the association is divided into four subassociations, namely the C.-E. festucetosum *arenariae Dierssen ex Mühl 1993, the C.-E. typicum de Smidt 1977, the C.-E. caricetosum nigrae Mühl 1993, and the C.-E. ericetosum de Smidt 1977. Within the subassociations several variants and subvariants are distinguished. The floristic and ecological characteristics of each syntaxon are given.