Hüde on the Dümmer: Discover Nature

In Hüde, the reed beds, birdwatching and the landscape around the Dümmer take centre stage. At the nature conservation station, engaging nature exhibits meet outdoor paths and observation spots. You can shape your stay around what interests you most: learning about species, enjoying the scenery or discovering the history of the area.

Observe and discover nature

The nature conservation station in Hüde has an accessible exhibition about fauna and flora, as well as the formation of the Dümmer. The station is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. As published opening hours can change, check the official information before your visit.

The Naturschutzring Dümmer’s nature discovery garden is right next to the station. Its features include a willow sculpture made from living willows, dry-stone walls, wildflower areas, a herb bed, a bog garden and an orchard meadow. The exhibition and garden offer different experiences: the exhibition focuses on fauna, flora and landscape history, while the garden features a range of landscaped habitats.

An accessible observation boardwalk leads through the reed belt. It is about 100 metres long and four metres wide, has turning areas for wheelchair users and ends at a sheltered bird hide. Some viewing windows are at seated height, giving wheelchair users and children good opportunities to observe wildlife. The stork-watching platform in Hüde is freely accessible to all visitors; check access arrangements before your visit in case they have changed.

A special feature was added in autumn 2025: a swivelling wave-shaped bench was installed opposite the Kammerahl family’s stork nests, offering a place from which to watch the storks.

Circular route, information boards and views

The Dümmer Nature Discovery Trail is a 4.5-kilometre circular route. It starts at the Dümmer Nature Conservation Station in Hüde, passes through the Ochsenmoor nature reserve and continues to the southern shore of the Dümmer. Along the way, 13 information boards share insights into the formation of the landscape, its wildlife and plant life, and the changing relationship between people and this lake. The trail complements the exhibition with an outdoor exploration: the boards highlight the nature and landscape you encounter along the way.

Another viewpoint is the Hohe Sieben observation tower. The steps have non-slip edge strips, and the tower is also equipped with a circular handrail. From there, you can look out over the lake and watch birds, sailors and windsurfers. The tower offers a distinct experience alongside the trail through the Ochsenmoor and the observation opportunities in the reed belt.

A historical highlight in Burlage

The Protestant St. Mary’s Church in Burlage is also part of Hüde’s local history. It originated as a Benedictine monastery. Part of the church and some furnishings from the monastery have survived; most of the present-day church dates from the 16th century. The church offers a different perspective on Hüde from the nature conservation station and the Dümmer: here, the history of the monastery and its surviving furnishings are the focus.

More to discover in the district of Diepholz

If you extend your travel plans beyond Hüde to the district of Diepholz, you’ll find more nature and culture to explore. In the Diepholz moor, a roughly two-kilometre moor discovery trail with ten stops leads through the moor ecosystem and offers an experience in every season. A cycling signposting system guides recreational cyclists along around 1,700 kilometres of routes in the district.

The Dümmer Museum in Lembruch presents the Dümmer Lake’s nature, landscape and culture in the past, present and future. The “Life in Water” research station explains the ecology of the Dümmer in detail. The museum’s section on the Stone Age at the Dümmer features original artefacts from between 4,000 and 2,000 BC, as well as reconstructions. These topics complement the nature and local history of Hüde with perspectives unique to the district of Diepholz.

If you’d like to explore more of the district of Diepholz, plan additional destinations as separate stops on your trip.

Discover more destinations: Stemshorn, Wagenfeld, Sudwalde, Süstedt, Bruchhausen-Vilsen, Varrel, Sulingen, Lemförde

Return to the main travel overview: Diepholz.