Emden Between Waterways, Museums and Landscapes

Emden brings together waterways and a harbour with cultural attractions and protected landscapes. This means a stay can take in everything from urban history and nature to experiences on the water. When choosing a holiday apartment, it helps to first consider which of these aspects you want to shape your stay.

Discover waterways and landscapes

Around 20 kilometres of waterways within the city limits can be explored by rowing boat; day trips in all four directions start from the Emden Rowing Club boathouse. You can also explore Emden’s canals by canoe or pedal boat. The boat and canoe rental service at the water tower rents out canoes, kayaks and pedal boats by the hour or by the day. If you prefer to travel on a passenger boat, you can take a harbour tour aboard the Atlantis: it lasts a good two and a half hours and passes through Emden’s inland harbour, either via the Nesserlander Lock or the Great Sea Lock.

AG Ems ships depart daily from Emden’s outer harbour for the island of Borkum. The passenger ship “Dollard” travels from Emden to Ditzum or Delfzijl. It is worth checking the current timetables before setting off. The Kesselschleuse is also a remarkable feat of water engineering: it is the only facility of its kind in Europe to be listed as a historic monument and is still in daily operation.

Nature enthusiasts will find a variety of landscapes: 490 hectares of the “Ostfriesische Meere” protected landscape lie within Emden’s city limits; the area is part of the Natura 2000 network. A hiking and cycling trail around two kilometres long runs along the Larrelter Tief and the former Constantia sleeping dike through the “Schlafdeich Constantia” protected landscape. Wetland habitats, ponds and small bodies of water are part of this landscape. The “Krummhörn” protected landscape stretches from Emden to Greetsiel and is highly important as a resting and wintering area for northern geese, ducks and waders. This offers a choice of different nature experiences: wetlands and small bodies of water on the one hand, and bird resting and wintering areas on the other.

Museums, ships and architectural history

The Bunker Museum focuses on the period from 1933 to 1948 in Emden and East Frisia. The regional museum is housed in an authentic Second World War bunker; guided tours for groups are available by arrangement. Two museum ships are moored at Emden’s Ratsdelft: the logger “AE 7-Stadt Emden” has been there since spring 1995, and the museum lightship “Amrumbank Deutsche Bucht” since 2 August 1984. The latter is now a maritime history museum and has the oldest intact lightship engine installation.

The Kunsthalle Emden hosts changing exhibitions of 20th- and 21st-century art across around 1,700 square metres. During opening hours, ten free bicycle lockers for charging e-bikes are available behind the Kunsthalle. The East Frisian State Museum Emden presents an art and cultural history collection unique in north-west Germany. Directly below the tower’s carillon is an observation platform 38 metres above the ground, offering views across the city and surrounding countryside.

Churches and historic buildings also tell the story of Emden’s cultural history. The Protestant Reformed New Church was built from 1643 to 1648 as the first Reformed preaching church in northern Germany; its acoustics make it a popular venue for concerts. The Vrouw-Johanna Mill was built in 1804 and remained in operation until 1956. The miller’s house is home to the Emden Art Association, an open meeting place for visual artists; regular special exhibitions are also held there.

Founded in the Reformed congregation in 1559, the Johannes a Lasco Library is the oldest library in East Frisia. Its historic holdings include a valuable book collection, an encyclopaedic collection and the Emden Bible. The library also hosts cultural events: in addition to concerts, conferences are held there regularly. The Dat Otto Huus is a museum dedicated to comedian Otto. The Otto cinema shows sketches from stage shows, excerpts from television programmes and films featuring Otto.

Choose your travel dates and accommodation focus

Emden’s recurring culinary traditions include the annual Matjes Days. The International Film Festival Emden-Norderney is held every June. If you want an event to determine your travel dates, check the current programme and dates before your trip. For cycling trip planning, it is also worth noting that Emden is the hub of the International Dollard Route.

The choice begins with a specific question about the kind of stay you want. Emden offers a range of ways to shape your trip, without requiring you to focus on just one theme.

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