Willmsfeld: A history of moorland and heath

Willmsfeld offers a clear starting point for exploring local history: the village began as a settlement on moorland and heath, and its name comes from an early name for the settlement. Its history also includes the KBV “Good Holt” club and a cycling tour whose return route passes through Willmsfeld. Three stops listed in the timetable for bus route 378 also provide practical information for planning your holiday. This lets you tailor your visit to your interests in local history, outdoor activities and bus connections.

From “Willms sien Feld” to Willmsfeld

Willmsfeld began as a Westerholt settlement on the extensive moorland and heath south of Westerholt. In 1892/93, farmer Johann Willms from Terheide sold 150 Diemat of heathland to various settlers. They initially called the new settlement “Willms sien Feld” and later “Willmsfeld”. The origins of the place name and the colonization are therefore part of the same story: the name developed from the settlement’s early designation, while the sale of the land marked the beginning of settlement.

The first settlers cultivated the poor moorland, sandy and heathland areas, turning them into farmland. Anyone interested in local history will find a concrete example of changing land use here: moorland, sand and heath initially defined the landscape, and the settlers transformed it into agricultural land. This development adds an account of how the new settlement came about to the story of its name.

Boßeln tradition, cycling and bus connections

Willmsfeld is home to the KBV “Good Holt” Willmsfeld club. The history of the “Good Holt” Willmsfeld Klootschießen and Boßeln club dates back to 1918: that year, Christian Wübbenhorst, a farmer’s son from Willmsfeld, and other young men founded the club. Alongside the history of the settlement, this offers another local story connected with Frisian sporting traditions.

A 2026 tour report describes the return route of the “Mit Rad up Pad” cycling tour through Westerholt, Willmsfeld and Eversmeer. This is a specific tour idea to consider when planning your ride; the information relates to the return route. It adds another way to explore the region alongside the local club’s history.

Bus route 378 connects Esens, Holtgast, Westerholt and Aurich. In Willmsfeld, the timetable lists the stops Willmsfelder Hof, Grundschule and Heidehof. If you plan to use this route during your trip, check the operator’s current timetable before travelling.

In the wider destination of Westerholt

In the wider destination of Westerholt, the church and organ tell stories from different historical periods. Westerholt Church preserves remnants of medieval paintings on its south wall, and its pulpit is one of the oldest wooden pulpits in East Frisia. For a time, the church was fortified and surrounded by a rampart and moat, protecting the western border of the territory controlled by the chieftains of Harlingerland. The organ in Westerholt Peace Church was built between 1840 and 1842 by Esens organ builder Arnold Rohlfs. The instrument has one manual, an attached pedal and eight stops, and is largely preserved; Martin Haspelmath restored it in 1988/89.

The local history museum in Westerholt may also open on other days if you contact them by telephone. Arrange your visit by phone before travelling. For outdoor activities in the region, Westerholt has a well-developed network of cycling routes. The approximately 48-kilometre Holtriem hiking trail links existing farm roads to form a circular route through Holtriem. It is well signposted, and families with children can explore sections suited to their abilities.

Another attraction in the wider destination is the Norderland wind farm in the Hammrich area of the municipalities of Nenndorf, Westerholt and Schweindorf. Its 35 wind turbines, with a total capacity of 52.5 megawatts, began operating in mid-1998. One turbine intended for visitors has an internal spiral staircase and a glazed viewing gallery below the machine house. In good weather, the gallery, at a height of 68 metres, offers views of the East Frisian Islands and the East Frisian peninsula.

To the main travel overview: Westerholt.