Holtgast: Village Museum and Nature

Holtgast can be discovered from two different perspectives: the Dörpmuseum, which offers insights into the everyday life of the village community, and a nature reserve that also includes areas within the municipality. There are also regional opportunities for walks, mudflat hikes and cycling tours. Which of these themes shapes your stay may also play a role in choosing the right base for your trip.

Nature in the Nature Reserve

The Ochsenweide Schafhauser Wald and Feuchtwiesen bei Esens Nature Reserve includes areas in Holtgast, Dunum, Moorweg, Stedesdorf and the town of Esens. Its subareas include Schafhauser Wald, Ochsenweide, Lange Werde and Feuchtwiesen bei Esens.

The Feuchtwiesen bei Esens subarea is home to wetland grassland, reed beds, mat-grass meadows and purple moor-grass meadows. Anyone interested in wetland habitats will find this a specific addition to the names of the subareas.

Village Museum and Haltestelle

The small Dörpmuseum is located in the Haltestelle community centre. Its exhibits show the everyday life of the Holtgast village community. The Haltestelle community centre also houses the Tourist Information office and the Dörpmuseum; there is a shelter for cyclists on the grounds. This brings local culture, tourist information and a facility designed for cycle tourists together in one place.

If you would like to visit the Dörpmuseum, check the current visiting arrangements in advance. This will help you fit a museum visit into your other plans without assuming set opening hours. The exhibits offer a way to discover village life, while the Tourist Information office is a place to go with questions about finding your way around the area.

Walking and Cycling in the Esens–Bensersiel Area

The Esens–Bensersiel area offers coastal walks, mudflat hikes and cycling through the coastal landscape. The final section of the Ostfriesland Hiking Trail runs from Esens along the dike in the direction of Bensersiel. For cyclists, the network in Bensersiel includes dike tours, rides to neighbouring sluice towns and routes through the East Frisian hinterland.

The walking and cycling options have different stated focuses: the hiking trail names Esens, the dike and Bensersiel as points along its route, while the cycling network offers a range of tour types, from dike routes to paths through the hinterland. Cycling maps, personal route tips and further suggestions are available from the Tourist Information offices at the Strandportal in Bensersiel and in Esens. Before setting out on a specific tour, check the current contact options and route information.

A Distinctive Cultural Note: Wittmund

The Peldemühle was built in 1741, with a residential building and barn, for hulling barley. It is the oldest single-storey gallery Dutch windmill in north-west Germany. Wittmund’s pedestrian zone is also home to the “Hands of Fame” promenade; it includes the unique “Bundespräsidentenplatz” (Federal President’s Square), which was inaugurated in 2010.

The Original East Frisian Abitur is another activity in Wittmund. It has been open to young and old alike since 1978. Participants must complete a total of nine tests in one day, including long-distance Boßeln, pole-vaulting, cow milking and tea drinking. Thus, the wider travel destination offers a choice of communal activities with a clear regional connection alongside historic buildings.

Choose the Right Base for Your Trip

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Back to the overview of the wider destination: Wittmund.