Papenburg – Germany’s Oldest Fenland Colony

Although Papenburg is less than 380 years old, it is still the oldest and longest fenland colony in Germany. The houses stretch along the length of the main channel, a drainage ditch from the era of fenland colonisation. The main channel and the many side channels together make up around 40 kilometres of navigable waterways which criss-cross Emsland’s northernmost town. Romantic wooden drawbridges link the islands of this watery labyrinth. Historical two-mast ships, worth a visit and also available for hire for weddings, bob up and down on the main channel.

Dietrich von Valen acquired the area where Papenburg now stands in the then inaccessible fenland in 1631 and began to drain it following the Dutch example. The cut peat was used as a valuable fuel. The start of peat-cutting was also the heyday of shipbuilding for the transport of goods. Of the once numerous shipyards, only the famous Meyer yard remains. It builds huge cruise ships which are transported to the North Sea via the Ems, which is dammed for the occasion. Cyclists will appreciate Papenburg, as five good cycle routes can be accessed from here. All five routes meet at the lock in Papenburg.

Contact:

Touristinformation im Papenburger Zeitspeicher
Ölmühlenweg 21
26871 Papenburg

+49 (0) 4961 / 83960
+49 (0) 4961 / 839696

info@papenburg-tourismus.de
http://www.papenburg-touristik.de/

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