The Emsland extends over 2,880 km² from the North Rhine-Westphalian border Rheine to the limit East Frisia at Papenburg.
background
The Emsland is larger in area than the federal state of Saarland and thus the largest district in Lower Saxony and one of the largest in Germany. Currently over 310,000 people live in the district of Emsland, who on August 1, 1977 came from the Aschendorf-Hümmling district Meppen and Lingen was formed.
Neighbors in the west are them Netherlands, with which there are diverse relationships across an approximately 60 km long common national border. In the east the districts of Cloppenburg and Osnabrück border on the Emsland, in the southwest the district of Grafschaft Bentheim.
cities and communes
Other goals
language
The so-called Low German is still spoken very actively in the villages and is part of everyday life. However, it differs slightly from village to village.
Due to the proximity to the Netherlands and the Dutch resident in Emsland, information is offered in German and Dutch in many places, for example in the Emsland Moor Museum.
getting there
The most important transport links are the motorways 
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and the E-232 (NL), the federal highways B-70 (Emsland - Ruhr area), B-213 (Emsland - Enschede) and B-214/218 (Emsland - Osnabrück), the main railway line Emden-Meppen-Münster-Ruhr area as well the Dortmund-Ems Canal. The international airports of Münster / Osnabrück, Düsseldorf, Bremen and Groningen are about an hour's drive away. The cities Papenburg, Meppen and Lingen can also be reached via the long-distance bus.
mobility
- Railway stations in Lingen, Geeste, Meppen, Haren OT Emmeln, Lathen, Papenburg
- Public bus connections
- RadExpress
- Cycle path network
Cycling in the Emsland
The Emsland is one of the ten most popular cycling regions in Germany. On around 3,500 kilometers of signposted cycle paths, you could comfortably cycle for 6 weeks straight through the almost incline-free Emsland. So that the whole thing doesn't get boring, there are prepared routes that include major sights:
- Ems cycle path
- Dortmund-Ems Canal Route
- Emsland route
- Megalithic cycle route
- United Countries Tour - divided into smokel route and pioneer route
- Hase-Ems tour
- Geest cycle path
Hiking in the Emsland
Hiking with a difference! Instead of climbing up steep mountains, explore deep forests, wide bogs and large stones here.
Tourist Attractions
- Medieval old town Meppen (Rampart)
- 5,000-year-old megalithic graves on the densely wooded Geestrücke of the Hümmling
- Medieval Burgmannshöfe and 1 Parish church
in Haselünne - Star-shaped hunting lodge Clemworth, a masterpiece by the baroque star architect Johann Conrad Schlaun
- Emsland Moor Museum
- Kornbrenner-Stadt Haselünne (Haselünne Distillery Museum)
- Emsland Museum Lingen
- Port city Papenburg (Meyer shipyard)
- Visits to Emsflower, Europe's largest nursery
- Maritime Museum in Haren
- Holiday center Castle Dankern
- Surwolds Forest Recreation Area
activities
- Cycling on the 300 km long and flat stretch of the "Emsland Route" cycle paths.
- Horses and riders can discover the Emsland together on around 1,100 kilometers of signposted and networked bridle paths. Exploring the riding area in Hilter in a group.
- Visit of the different cities, such as the Kornbrenner city Haselünne, the shipyard and port city of Papenburg (Meyer Werft, Meppens old town and Wannanlage and the shipping town of Haren (Ems).
- Experience the hospitality in Melkhüsken and country inns, in farm and mill cafés or in the restaurants of the cities with their regional and international specialties.
- Paddling, water skiing, swimming, fishing - everything, the main thing is wet!
- Steam locomotive rides on the Emsland Railway to Löningen or Meppen - Essen / Oldbg.
Family vacation in Emsland
The Emspiraten show "Jenny & Jack" as the brand's seal of quality "Family Land Emsland" the way to great and family-friendly holiday offers. The more than 50 certified companies not only have a high fun and adventure factor, they also meet strict safety criteria. Mom and Dad can relax in peace, while daughter and son experience real adventures. These exemplary holiday offers have proven themselves: Almost the entire Familienland criteria catalog has been adopted for the “KinderFerienLand Niedersachsen” seal of approval.
kitchen
Farm cafes, farm shops and Melkhüskes are typical and particularly popular as a culinary excursion destination or as a stop on bike tours.
In the so-called “Melkhüsken” along the bike, hiking and riding trails, fresh dairy products and other provisions are offered directly from the farm.
Haselünne is the center of the grain brandy tradition. Three well-known distilleries, Rosche, Berentzen and Heydt, are still located here today. They offer company tours and tastings and also report on the history of their hometown.
Beers are also produced in Emsland according to the German purity law of 1516. In the Emsland country house brewery, the master brewer explains his craft and offers samples. There is also beer liqueur, hearty meals and crossbow shooting.
In Emsland you can discover numerous culinary delicacies: hearty kale meals, typical regional dishes such as buckwheat pancakes, buckwheat beer or cake, seasonal dishes such as asparagus and game or modern, light cuisine.
Web links
- Emsland Tourism: www.emsland.com (Tourism)
- District Emsland: www.emsland.de (Official website of the district)
