Discover Werdum: Church, Mill and Traditional Crafts

Church and Organ History

According to the latest findings, the construction of St. Nicolai Church dates from 1230 to 1250. Its location on a dwelling mound is one of the building’s distinctive historic features. The organ has a story of its own, too: Johann Diepenbrock built it in 1897/98 with 14 stops, two manuals and a pedal. Its mechanical cone chests are part of its design, as is the fact that the organ has been preserved in its entirety. It was thoroughly restored by Martin Haspelmath in 1987/88.

For visitors interested in churches and organs, St. Nicolai Church offers several specific points of interest: the period in which the church was built, its well-preserved organ and the instrument’s technical and craftsmanship features. The church is also on the route of the “Rasender Kalle” tourist train—a detail that may also interest visitors who want to discover Werdum on a tour of the village.

The Earth-Hollander Windmill as a Museum

The Earth-Hollander windmill was built in 1748 on a dwelling mound by the lord of Edenserloog Castle. Today, it is open as a museum. A small collection of old household, barn and farming tools is on display on the lower floor. So a visit to the mill is about more than the historic building itself: it also offers a look at objects from different aspects of everyday life and agriculture in the past.

Mill tours take place on Mondays and Wednesdays from April to October and conclude with a miller’s diploma. If you would like to include this activity in your plans, you can take the specified days of the week and period into account when arranging your stay. The mill is also on the “Rasender Kalle” route; the train passes by it.

Blacksmithing and Activities in the Village

At the Historic Forge, the blacksmith demonstrates traditional craftsmanship for visitors on request, forging horseshoes, hearts and other objects. He is there from April to October. This offers a different way to explore Werdum’s history than visiting the church and mill: the focus here is on hands-on craft. Another leisure activity in the village is the miniature golf course at “Ankerplatz Werdum”.

The “Rasender Kalle” offers a village tour lasting approximately 30 minutes. Along the way, the tourist train passes the mill and the forge; Häuptlingsburg Edenserloog and St. Nicolai Church are on the route. If you would like to see the various stops as part of a single outing, this tour offers another way to experience the places mentioned in Werdum. Its approximate duration also gives you a helpful guide for planning your day.

Baking at the Backhuus

The Backhuus is another family-friendly experience in Werdum: children can bake bread on sticks and cookies there. From April to October, the old Backhuus regularly hosts wood-fired oven baking activities every day except Saturday. The two offerings have different focuses—from baking together for children to activities at the wood-fired oven. If you would like to include these activities in your holiday, you can take the time of year and the Saturday exception into account when planning.

The options range from architectural and organ history to the mill museum and blacksmithing, as well as baking and miniature golf. When choosing a holiday apartment in Werdum, you can consider which of these village experiences will appeal most to your family and what you would like to focus on during your holiday.

For more ideas in the area as you plan your trip, you can also explore Ochtersum, Holtgast, Utarp, Neuschoo, Neuharlingersiel, Wittmund, Holtriem and Carolinensiel more closely.

Back to the main travel overview: Wittmund.