Ostfriesen Genealogical Society of America, Genealogical Society for Ostfriesen, Germany

TRAVEL TIPS AND INFORMATION ABOUT OSTFRIESLAND

You are planning a trip to Ostfriesland! You are in for the most wonderful adventure. Here is information that you can use when you travel to Ostfriesland. Also included are descriptions of some of the sights and landmarks of Ostfriesland.

OGSA has a recently updated travel brochure for $6.00 a lot of information that will help you in your travels. It has information on the following subjects, but also on currency, car rental, driving and great tips that will help you! It was written by one of our members after a trip that was a disaster!

Check these out! Airlines

Research in Ostfriesland

The Krummhörn

The City of Emden

Museums Depicting the History of the Area

Miscellaneous Information

This page is intended to be interactive and you are encouraged to share your travel experiences with others. Any useful information that you gained while traveling in Ostfriesland would be greatly appreciated. Of particular value would be descriptions of various sights and landmarks in Ostfriesland along with pictures. Yes, we really would like to have pictures of Ostfriesland! And not just from those of you who have traveled to Ostfriesland, but also from people who live there—we would love to have the perspective of native Ostfriesens on these pages.

An updated, printed version of the Travel Tips is available on the "Gifts Section" of this website - check it on the order blank.

When we flew out of Bremen in April they weighed each bag - they were VERY strict with this! We bought a LOT of books to bring back to America and had to borrow a cousin's scale that didn't work very well to weigh each suitcase. So there we were out in the street in a residential neighborhood in Emden kicking the scale to make it work - Crazy Americans!

There are other airlines that connect from Frankfurt. Make sure you book your flight directly to Bremen (airport code BRE).   The hotel directly across the street from the airport is absolutely wonderful. A bit more expensive, but you also save the cost of one days rental car!   The car rental is across from the airport and the hotel - could not be easier. You do not have to get the breakfast at the hotel as there is a great cafe in the airport that is open all the time - and it costs a fraction of the price charged by the hotel.

If you decide to drive from Amsterdam, it is about 3 1/2 to 4 hours to Emden.
Use a navigational device - this is a must! TomTom works great there, but you must have the North European maps if you use it over there. I will NEVER travel over there again without it!
Lin Cornelius Strong

The Krummhörn...
The Krummhörn is located along the coast of the North Sea and advertises that it has the fresh air off the North Sea that vacationers want. There are camping places along the coast.

Another wonderful place is Die Osterburg zu Groothusen, which is a small castle located in the city of Groothusen. The castle is surrounded by a moat and the castle is filled with family heirlooms. The Kempe family history is featured in a Geschlecterbuch (a genealogy book for the bourgeois). It is unknown at this time if they give tours. If you wish to make a reservation, please write to them (English) at the following address: Herr Enno Kempe, An der Osterburg 1, 26736 Groothusen, Krummhörn, Germany (Telephone from US 01149-4923-1270)

The city of Pewsum is next to Groothusen and has shopping areas and larger banks for cashing checks. Pewsum is one of the larger Cities and is noted for their shops. Many banks (Sparkasse/Bank) have ATM's for your convenience. Many shops in Pewsum or other smaller towns do not take credit cards. Banks in this area preferred American Express Traveler's checks.

Take note of all the modern windmills in this area. There is a windmill farm near the ocean by the city of Pilsum.

The church in Grimersum is noted for its old grave stones and a lot of other historical data. Please check out OGSA's book The Krummhörn, if you are traveling to this area. It is well worth it for the historical data.

Rysum has been voted the prettiest village in the area. The residents take great pride in this award and there are wonderful flower gardens. There is a wonderful Lebensmittel (grocery store) with gift items and a great Backerei (bakery). Most small towns have a grocery store which also carries gift items. They are open on Saturday mornings and closed on Wednesday afternoons. Nothing is open on Sunday except gas stations in larger Cities.

The Rysum Reformed Church (State Church) is very old and the organ and many argue that it is either the oldest in the World - or the oldest in Europe. The church is currently being renovated and as of 2009, the organ is in storage until the renovation is completed. The church in Loquard is also worth a visit - it has an original wood carved altar which is beautiful. Churches are only open on Sunday mornings for church unless you can find the pastor at home.

The church in Campen was completely restored a couple of years ago. It was a Catholic Church prior to the Reformation and is more ornate than most churches. Don't miss a service in one of these old churches - most villages have one.

The church in Pilsum is one of the oldest in the area and was also Catholic before the Reformation. At that time it was very ornate, and some of the original wall paintings have been restored and are visible in some areas.

You can determine the denomination of the churches by the following symbols: Reformed Churches have a rooster on the tower of the church, Lutheran have a swan, Catholic churches have a fish. Alte Reformiert Kirche (similar to Christian Reformed in America) do not have a marking. Bell towers are not attached to the church - because the tolling of the bell would, over time, damage the church structure. Don't miss a walk in the wonderful, flower-filled cemeteries. You will want to bring your camera. However, some churches have a swan and are Reformed (Groothusen) because the pastor at that time liked the swan.

To the north is the beautiful city of Greetsiel. This town is along the coast of the North Sea. Very picturesque, the town caters to tourists. There are two beautifully restored windmills along the drive into the city. Make sure you do not miss this village!

Make sure you take time to walk the dikes along the North Sea. The dikes are part of the National Park System and vital to the health and well-being of the area. Sheep are grazed along the dikes to keep the earth packed down so rodents and other animals cannot weaken the dikes. There is always a fresh wind off the North Sea and in the Spring, Fall and Winter - it can be downright cold!

Each village has its own special charm with shops, churches, cemeteries and wonderful brick homes each with clay tile roof. Farms with the home and barn attached are located at the edge of villages. All of these are connected by narrow roadways. Bicyclists have the right of way! Take your time as you travel along the North Sea and enjoy the unique beauty of this area! Lin Cornelius Strong

The City of Emden...
The City of Emden is the main commercial influence for the Krummhörn area. There are wonderful museums, hotels and lots of history in this old city. Emden is noted for it's harbor on the Ems River. In addition there are many canals and waterways throughout the City. For centuries this harbor has transported good and services. The City was heavily bombed during WW II. mainly because it was a primary shipping port and tourists cannot miss the sight of the bomb shelters in every area of the City. The City was almost totally destroyed, but has been beautifully rebuilt.

The A31 comes from the southeast and travels around the City on the north. On the west side of Emden it intersects with Landesstrasse Nr. 2. To the west, this roadway travels up the north coast to Greetsiel. To the east, it travels into the City of Emden and to the central business district.

You will find all types of shopping in the City - large supermarkets similar to those found in the USA and small, quaint shops in the downtown area. Be sure to stop at a Buchhandlung - this is a bookstore where you will not only find books, but maps of all types and other interesting things. There are Backerei's, clothing stores and many gift shops for tourists. Check out the Frisian shop!

There are shops that specialize in wonderful lace curtains, table cloths, porcelain dishes, tea pots and other Frisian items. Take plenty of time and stroll through the area. Many shops in this area will take a credit card. Bring your calculator along to figure out the exchange rate.

These are but a few of the museums that you will find: The Emden - Ostfriesland Landesmuseum and Stadtische Rustkammer is a fantastic museum located on Neutorstrasse - the Rathaus am Delft. This museum is located on several floors in downtown Emden near the harbor. Their collection of artifacts was stored underground during WWII. for preservation. Their collection includes burial jars, paintings, Bibles, household furnishings, reproductions, swords, armor and other memorabilia. Don't miss this collection.

There is a Kunsthalle (Art Museum) located on Hinter dem Rahmen 13. The museum also has a museum shop, a restaurant and a cafeteria. The museum is open Tuesday through Sundays (Telephone 04921 9 75 00). MUSEUMS ARE NOT OPEN ON MONDAYS AND ON SOME HOLIDAYS!

Other museums in Emden include: the Museumfeuerschiff "Amrumbank/Deutsche Bucht" located along Georg-Breusin Promenade, the museum is open every day of the week. Emden Museumlogger is located on Petkumer Strasse 220 which is open from Mon. through Sat.

The Pelzerhaus is a Burgerhaus from the Renaissance around the year 1585. It is located at Emsmauerstrasse 12 / Pelzerstrasse 12. It is open from Monday through Friday and Sundays. Make sure you visit this area!

Their water tower is located on one of the main streets in town and is very decorative. There are several old cemeteries in the City - the flowers on the graves are beautiful and are all tended by the family of the deceased.

Watch out for bicyclists (and there are many) in the City, they have their own lane for travel. Many small villages surround the larger City of Emden - what we would call suburbs. These include Wolthusen, Borsum, Conrebbersweg, Larrelt, Uphusen, Twixlum, Harsweg, Tholensmehr, Gross Albringsmehr, Kaiser WiIlhelm Polder, Friesland, Siedlung Hilmarsum, Jarssum, and Larrelt Polder.

Museums Depicting the History of the Area...
The following museums depict the actual living quarters of some of the early settlers in Ostfriesland. There are many museums - school, ship and many others that are worth visiting. In addition, many villages have their own museums (HeimatMuseum). And please don't miss the Rathaus in Emden.

MoorMuseum in Moordorf (near Victorbur and Sudbrookmoorland) is a good example of an earlier life on the moors. Don't miss this one! There are eight or nine small homes that have been reconstructed. It also shows how they cut the sod to make sod huts. Take your time and bring your dictionary so you can translate the information. They have slide shows and pictorial displays in the museum building as well as a wonderful teahouse which serves tea and fantastic desserts all day long. The walk through this museum will take approximately one hour - depending on how long you linger and how many pictures you take or how much tea you drink!

CLOPPENBURG Located between Oldenburg and Bremen. This museum will take you a minimum of three hours to walk through! The museum depicts life in the rich farmer's homes during many different years and time periods. It is beautifully done and also features historic windmills and many different types of architecture. Each of the buildings is furnished and the barns include early farming implements. It is well worth the trip! You walk down cobblestone paths into the past - and be sure to wear comfortable shoes. You may want to eat before you go or bring a sandwich along! The end of July or the first part of August there is a medieval fair in the City.

NORDEN - TEA MUSEUM This museum has displays of early shop life and includes a history of the tea trade with Ostfriesland. Hundreds of beautiful porcelain tea pots and tea sets are displayed throughout the building. There are several floors and a basement area to tour. Tour time approximately one to two hours. No pictures may be taken inside the museum. There was an antique store next to the Tea Museum that we found very interesting. There were many restaurants within a six block area. Norden has a harbor where you can purchase tickets to visit the Islands. In summer, this is a busy City. Lin Cornelius Strong

ATM machines are available in most cities such as Leer, Weener, Norden, Emden, Aurich and Pewsum, but there are none in small villages. Watch your wallet, there is crime, especially in larger cities.

Use money belts or other under clothing money carriers. Don't use a purse or fanny packs to store passport, money or credit cards. Money belts and other similar items can be found wherever

Language problems, Traveler's Checques and credit cards, wonderful people...
We were in Ostfriesland three years ago, and it was a marvelous experience, even with the many difficulties we experienced. Most of the people we met in Leer, Emden, and Aurich did not understand English at all, and even ordering food, finding our way around, etc. was difficult. I was told that they all learned English in school, but they don't get to practice it very often. Also, we found that they didn't seem to want to cash Traveler's Cheques, and many restaurants, etc. did not accept Credit Cards. However, my lasting impression of the Friesen People, that I will hold on to forever, is that they were the kindest, sweetest, most generous, helpful people I have ever encountered in our many travels. Many of them would lift our luggage on to the train, two different people ran several blocks to find someone to help us with directions, they were just unbelievable. — Jean Lee Btexvp@aol.com

The Amsterdam Airport...
I'll second the comment that they were very helpful in the Amsterdam airport. Three years ago I flew into Amsterdam on my way to Stanstead in England. I have MS and require a wheelchair in airports. When I arrived in Amsterdam, an airline agent collected me at the gate with an electric cart and deposited me in a large holding area in the center of the terminal. An agent wrote down my departure time, my name and what I was wearing. Several hours later someone with an electric cart appeared magically in time to take me to the connecting gate. And no tips; it's a service of the airline. — Marilyn Stulken mstulken@rli-net.net

Moin Moin! Just got back! ...
Moin! What a trip! Gas was exceedingly expensive, 2.10 a liter, but it all worked out. Met some very fine German people and some distant cousins. Had torte und tee lots of times and the celebration at Upschört was a great success. I bought the bicentenial book, all in German but you can figure it out. If I get away for your next conference I will bring it along.

One thing I will tell you that we found out on this trip is that the tourist information centers are gold for dummies like us! We found accommodations through there office, we found maps, we really got the personal touch when the young lady went out of her way to find us a place and checked with her girl friend who still had a vacation apartment available when all other places were full.

Something else we learned, you can't get cash from the cash machines with your master card or visa for some reason. Another American found the same to be true and when we check with the local bank they past the buck to the larger bank at Wittmund. (Who says they didn't learn from the Americans!) We went ahead and tried again at a large bank at Jever and again, no dice. This time we got cash from the bank teller, but we had to spend a lot of extra time to get it processed. We are going to say something to our local banking operation and maybe the word will spread so this problem will be taken care of. I would suggest that if anyone else has a problem that they do the same, squeaky wheel gets the grease!

Another thing, when planning what you are going to do when, it might be a good idea to suggest that most things that are of museum caliber are not open on Mondays. Mondays are good days for shopping or general touring, but don't try and sneak a peek at a major museum as they are generally closed.

We used a lot of the information that you offered up on the web and generally found it all to be spot on. We did find a glitch in one of the museum listings, but it was more a problem the German's created than your information. Your information was correct when coming to the museum from the south, however the signs appeared to be for a different place when coming from the north and west. Not a major deal, just a little confusing, but with the large scale maps what isn't confusing!

I have a ton of stuff to do for the folks in Germany and a ton of people to get in touch with here about the folks in Germany, but I thought it was important to tell you how very helpful your information was and that adding the tourist centers to your list of travel tips would be an excellent addition. The lady that works at the Friedeberg tourist information center speaks very good English and was just what the doctor ordered for a couple of tired Americans looking for cheaper accommodations. She also has two sets of the Reepsholt OSB for sale still as well! — Steve Hanken cranken@inav.net

Vacation in Spohle ...
We were very pleased to visit Ostfriesland in June 2001. We can recommend a very nice vacation facility, the home of Wilfred and Traute Harbers. Traute speaks good English and they both have travelled extensively. They are very knowledgeable about the area and can help you with places to vbisit and other towns. They are in the small community of Spohle and you can find their web site at: http://www.FeWo-Idylle.de. Rates are shown on the site for each of the various apartments. — Bruce & Myla Collier mgbcollier@thegrid.net