Discover Papenburg: Shipbuilding, Mills and Culture

Papenburg’s maritime history comes to life through modern shipyard experiences, historic ships and buildings with very different stories. There are also cultural venues, a Baroque garden and a golf course. This variety gives you different starting points for planning: shipbuilding and shipping, local history, culture or outdoor activities.

Shipbuilding and Shipping in Papenburg

At the MEYER WERFT Visitor Centre, visitors can experience modern, sustainable shipbuilding up close. The Maritime Erlebniswelt takes a historical focus: covering 1,000 m², it uses interactive exhibits to present Papenburg’s history as a shipyard and maritime trading centre, as well as the development of wooden and steel shipbuilding. This puts both shipbuilding today and the development of shipping in the spotlight.

The maritime tradition is also visible in Papenburg’s canals. The “Friederike” is one of a total of six replicas of historic sailing ships, moored at various locations in the canals and symbolising the town’s shipping and shipbuilding tradition. The Erlebniswelt tells the story of the historical context; the replicas are visible symbols of this tradition in the townscape.

Mills, Houses and Cultural Venues

The restored Meyers Mühle is a Papenburg landmark, located between the main canal and the town park. Built in 1888 as a “gallery Dutch” windmill, it now houses an interactive permanent exhibition about its history. Its construction date, mill type and exhibition give the visit a clear historical focus.

The Alte Drostei is one of Papenburg’s oldest houses and has been extensively restored. Today, it is a cultural centre hosting changing exhibitions, concerts, readings and dining experiences. If you are interested in different aspects of cultural life, you will find a different subject here than in the exhibitions on maritime history.

The Aschendorfer Heimathaus focuses on traditional crafts and agriculture in the 19th and 20th centuries. The building dates from 1898; original machines bring the history of crafts in Papenburg to life. The Von-Velen-Anlage offers another way to explore local history: this open-air museum is in the Obenende district of Papenburg and is easy to reach by bicycle or car.

Gardens, Golf and Getting Around

In the Aschendorf district, the Baroque garden at Gut Altenkamp features majestic yew hedges that are more than 200 years old. For a different kind of outing, there is the Papenburg golf course, with 18 holes across more than 70 hectares, making it one of the largest golf courses in the region.

If you are travelling by bicycle, the access-controlled, video-monitored bicycle station at Papenburg railway station has space for around 120 bicycles and up to six cargo bikes or bicycles with trailers. There are also 40 lockers with charging facilities for e-bike batteries. For planning, it is worth checking the latest information about the bicycle station.

Consider which of these places matter most to you during your stay, and compare their locations with the specific location of your accommodation.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Haren / Ems, Werpeloh, Rastdorf, Bawinkel, Twist, Sögel, Fresenburg, Dersum.

Back to the main travel overview: Emsland.