Discover Nordhorn: Textile history, museums and the Vechte

Discover Nordhorn through a wide range of experiences: textile and town history, trips on the Vechte, cycling routes and nature at the zoo. Some activities take you right into the town’s past, while others focus on the water and surrounding landscape.

Textile history to see and experience

The Industrial Museum in the NINO high-rise presents Nordhorn’s textile and fashion history across more than 1,200 square metres. The exhibitions draw on a collection of more than 100,000 photographs, fashion magazines and original garments made from NINO, Povel and Rawe fabrics, with displays changing over time. The collection also includes hundreds of sample books and fabric swatches, as well as collection catalogues and promotional materials from the NINO, Povel and Rawe companies. In the “Dressing Room”, visitors can try on historical clothing themselves—offering a different way to explore fashion history than simply looking at the exhibits.

The Town Museum in Povelturm focuses on Nordhorn’s history, particularly its development as a border town in north-western Germany. The top gallery offers views across Nordhorn. The Old Church on the Market Square provides another glimpse into the past: it was built in the 15th century in the Late Gothic style. Guided tours that include a climb up the tower are offered during the summer months.

Trips on the Vechte and routes for different kinds of days

On the approximately two-hour “Vechte Ranger” discovery trip, the route circles Nordhorn’s city centre and Lake Vechtesee. On board, participants can use binoculars and a hand net to explore the animal and plant life in and around the water. The Vechte City Tour takes a different approach: it circles the island at the heart of the city, passing the Old Church on the Market Square and continuing along Nordhorn’s waterways. The “Nordhorn on Foot and by Water” tour, by contrast, combines a walk through the city centre with a trip on a Vechte boat.

Cyclists can also choose from a range of routes. The more than 180-kilometre “Kunstwegen” route follows the Vechte from Ohne via Nordhorn to Zwolle in the Netherlands. The 54.40-kilometre “Along Towpaths and Church Paths between the Vechte and Ems” cycling route starts and ends at the VVV tower in Nordhorn. Shorter and easy for families, the 30.27-kilometre “Border Adventure for Families” cycling route starts and ends at VVV Nordhorn, passing the historic lock on Lake Vechtesee and Klukkerthafen harbour. Guided cycling tours organised by the VVV run through the town and pass notable historic buildings.

Nature, the market and regional delicacies

At Nordhorn Zoo, the Vechte floodplain nature trail crosses walkways through a floodplain woodland habitat beside an old branch of the Vechte and continues to the historic Vechtehof farm. Educational games and information panels teach children and teenagers about animals and nature. Vechtehof also has a petting zoo with piglets of the Bunte Bentheimer breed. At the “De Malle Jan” inn at Vechtehof, visitors can enjoy homemade cakes and gateaux.

The weekly market is another feature of the city centre: it takes place on Wednesdays and Saturdays right in front of the Old Church on the Market Square and offers regional specialities. When planning your trip, you can choose to focus on town history, a trip on the Vechte, cycling or nature experiences. When looking for accommodation, a good place to start is to consider which of these sides of Nordhorn you would like to shape your stay.

Discover more destinations

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Back to the main travel overview: Grafschaft Bentheim.