Pogum: Dollart, Muhdehafen and East Frisian history

Pogum on the Dollart

Pogum lies where the western Ems riverbank ridge meets the Dollart; the village also includes a small Muhdehafen harbour. The landscape and harbour give this destination a clear connection to the water. When planning your trip, you could combine Pogum’s own sights with other cultural and natural attractions in the surrounding area.

Church, history and views of the Dollart

Pogum’s Protestant Lutheran hall church dates from 1776. Inside is an organ built by Johann Adam Berner in 1758/59. There are also gravestones dating from the 11th century, considered the oldest in East Frisia. Different historical periods therefore stand side by side in one building: the 18th-century church and gravestones that are many centuries older.

In the vicinity of Pogum, the former drilling platform at Dyksterhusen offers a fine view across the Dollart bay. The Kreierrennen, associated with Pogum, is also part of local memory: it used to be held regularly in summer and attracted up to 1,000 spectators to the Dollart. This offers a glimpse into the village’s festival culture, while the viewpoint at Dyksterhusen adds a scenic highlight.

Fishing at the Wymeerer Sieltief

The Wymeerer Sieltief is a stretch of fishing water between the Schafwegbrücke bridge in Pogum and the Dyksterhusen sluice. With a little luck, you may catch eel, pike, carp, zander, whitefish, tench or plaice there. The fishing waters along the Sieltief are generally accessible at any time; statutory closed seasons apply. Fishing permits are available from the Ditzum Tourist Information Centre, Sielstr. 13, on presentation of a sport fishing licence. If fishing is part of your travel plans, both the species you may catch and these permit requirements are important to consider when preparing.

A meeting place and a break outdoors

The Dörphus Pogum can be rented by individuals or groups. It opens for special events, including a May celebration, New Year’s Eve and a bathtub race. For a break outdoors, the rest area at the Pogum pumping station has several individual benches, picnic tables and a shelter. These offer two different options: getting together at the Dörphus or stopping to rest at the available seating.

Jemgum as an additional cultural destination

If you include Jemgum in your travel plans, you will find further historic sites there. Jemgum’s former harbour was established on an old tidal creek that led inland from the Ems; today the site is occupied by the market square. Historic buildings include the Alba-Haus, dating from 1576, the former weigh house from 1589 and the Dutch-style gallery windmill from 1756. Jemgum’s church was built in the 13th century as the church of the Commandery of the Knights Hospitaller; the Sielhus is the former home of the sluice keeper.

The Jemgum Milk and Dairy Museum explains the connections between milk production, processing and consumption through exhibits and additional oral and written information. The Jemgum Local History and Culture Association regularly holds events at the Sielhus; check the dates before your trip. Tea and dairy products are served at the mill café in Jemgum Mill. As its current opening hours are not known, it is advisable to check before visiting.

Which accommodation suits your travel plans?

If you would also like to visit historic buildings, explore museum exhibits or attend events, make Jemgum a separate focus of your trip too. This lets you decide how to balance landscape, water and culture when choosing your destination.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Ditzum, Critzum and Hatzum.

For the overview of the wider area, see: Jemgum.