Bog and Moraine

Esterwegen in the 21st Century

Esterwegen lies in the northern part of the Emsland, between Oldenburg and Papenburg. As the Emsland region began to develop, the village of Esterwegen changed from one with an agricultural orientation into a modern village with over 5,000 inhabitants. The village’s motto, ‘a green island in the moor’ can be taken quite literally. Esterwegen is situated on a forested glacial moraine over 39 m above sea level at its highest point. In the charming village square the Heritage House, community oven as well as the Esterwegen tourist office can be found. In front of the tourist office, the bronze statue of a peat cutter reminds passersby of the hard times that the first settlers experienced as they struggled to get fuel for cooking and heating in this inhospitable environment.

Since 1973, the villages of Esterwegen, Bockhorst, Breddenberg, Hilkenbrook and Surwold are joined in and together form the community of Nordhümmling. As an officially certified recreational area, Esterwegen offers active vacations for hiking and bicycling but also for leisure and relaxation. Erika Lake is an attractive destination with its youth camping sites for over 400 people and many camper van sites. The mini-golf course, skateboarding park, adventure playground and barbequing site ensures that kids and teenagers never get bored. Those who enjoy something a little unique will enjoy the archery range. The new MoorInfoPath and the excursion destination of Esterweger Dose enable you to experience and become fascinated by this habitat. The close proximity to Papenburg enables convenient regional day trips and lets you experience fen cultivation up close.