Rhauderfehn: Fehn Canals, Tours and History

Rhauderfehn can be explored through its trails, canals, and Fehn and shipping history. Cycling routes, a historical walk, and a nature trail each offer a different focus; the Fehn and Shipping Museum complements outdoor activities with a collection on regional culture. You can plan your stay according to whether you want to include longer cycling routes, a walk with historical stops, or a variety of activities in your vacation days. When choosing a holiday apartment, first consider which of Rhauderfehn’s features you would like to shape your stay.

Cycling Tours with Different Themes

The Kleinbahn Tour is a 15-kilometre day trip. It follows the Ostfriesland hiking trail and the former narrow-gauge railway line through Westrhauderfehn, Collinghorst, Rhaudermoor, and Rhaude in Rhauderfehn. The Wiekentour has a different focus: this themed route, around 22 kilometres long, runs alongside canals, swing bridges, and historic sites, introducing cyclists to the history of peatland colonisation. It can be cycled at any time.

When planning your day, you can compare not only the route lengths but also their themes: the Kleinbahn Tour follows a former railway line, while the Wiekentour focuses on canals, bridges, and the history of peatland colonisation. If you enjoy exploring by bike on vacation, these two routes offer different points of reference to help you choose; one is described as a 15-kilometre day trip, the other as a themed route around 22 kilometres long.

On Foot and Through the Landscape

The Fehn Tour is a historical walk along the Fehn canals through the centre of Rhauderfehn. Along the route, 16 information boards explain how the historic buildings around Westrhauderfehn and Rhaudermoor have changed over time. The walk thus combines a route through the centre with insights into the architectural history of both places.

The nature trail at “Oll Wiek” invites you to hike, jog, walk, and cycle. The Hammrichtour offers a different focus: along its route are moorland, Hammrich, marshland, and Geest. Together, the trails offer different ways to experience Rhauderfehn outdoors—from a historical walk with information boards to a tour where the landscape itself is part of the experience.

Fehn Culture at the Museum

The Westrhauderfehn Fehn and Shipping Museum is housed in the historic Graepel Villa in Westrhauderfehn, a district of the municipality of Rhauderfehn. Its collection focuses on Fehn culture, shipbuilding, shipping, and domestic culture. The museum adds a cultural perspective to the trails: while the Fehn Tour features historic buildings along its route, here you can explore topics relating to regional culture and shipping through the collection.

For families and other travellers visiting together, the different options can help with planning: would you like to focus on cycling routes, include a historical walk, or combine outdoor activities with a museum visit? You can also choose a holiday apartment or holiday house in Rhauderfehn to suit these interests. The tours offer specific themes and route lengths to help you plan your vacation days, without limiting yourself to just one way of exploring.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Langholt, Rhaudermoor, Moormerland, Uplengen, Bunde, Filsum, Westoverledingen, Detern.

Return to the main travel overview: Leer.