Jarßum combines a location on a Warft in the coastal marsh with a history of dike building and the landscape of the Lower Ems Nature Reserve. The village lies around 6.5 kilometres from the city of Emden; it borders the Ems to the south and Widdelswehr to the east. Those interested in the landscape and local history will find two different perspectives on the coastal marsh here: its natural habitats and the dike lines built over a long period of time.

Warft and Landscape on the Lower Ems

The “Lower Ems” nature reserve is part of the FFH area 002 “Lower Ems and Outer Ems” (DE 2507-331), and is therefore part of the European Natura 2000 network of protected areas. The area includes the 200-hectare Petkum foreland beyond the dike on the Lower Ems. It stretches from Jarßum to Gandersum and, together with adjoining areas in the district of Leer, was designated the “Lower Ems” nature reserve by ordinance on 30 May 2017.

Salt marshes, tidal creeks and extensive river mudflats shape the protected area. The mudflats are up to 250 metres wide and provide habitats for numerous highly specialized and endangered plant and animal species. Jarßum is therefore notable not only for its settlement on a Warft, but also for the distinctive landforms of the Lower Ems. The protected landscape is a different matter from the routes along the dike: features of the nature reserve should not be confused with routes available for use.

Dike Paths and Seasonal Differences

Pedestrians and cyclists can travel year-round on the paths in front of or behind the dike between Gandersum and the Emden outer harbour. The outer dike path along the Petkum foreland is a separate route: it is accessible from 1 July to 30 September. The path between the Emden districts of Petkum and Jarßum was previously accessible only during this period. When planning, therefore, note the difference between year-round use of the paths in front of or behind the dike and the seasonally accessible outer dike path.

Church and History of Dike Building

Jarßum’s small, single-nave church was built in 1797 on a Warft overlooking the dike. Its simple interior was extensively renovated in 1969. The church, church mound and cemetery form the ensemble known as the Jarßum church mound. Here, the history of church construction meets the distinctive settlement pattern on a Warft.

Another layer of the coastal landscape’s history can be seen at Jarßum’s stack dike. Five dike lines, dating from the Middle Ages to the present day, run one above another, behind one another and alongside one another. Their arrangement makes the long development of dike lines tangible at a specific location: rather than a single boundary line, there is a succession of different periods. The church and the stack dike therefore offer different points of focus—one on local building history, the other on the development of dike construction.

There is also a centrally located playground in the village.

Cultural Attractions in the Wider Destination of Emden

In the wider destination of Emden, art and urban history offer further points of interest. The Kunsthalle Emden mainly presents Classical Modern art and has an affiliated art school. Dat Otto Huus documents the career of Emden comedian Otto Waalkes. Across two floors, it displays photographs and mementos from his life, films, well-known props from cinema and tours, as well as awards and prizes.

The East Frisian State Museum in Emden also focuses on art and cultural history. Its collection is described as unique in north-west Germany; across around 2,600 square metres, visitors can explore art and history. Emden’s armoury includes 400-year-old swords, matchlock muskets and armour that reflect the city’s former weaponry. The Emden Bunker Museum, meanwhile, is housed in an authentic bunker and traces the period from the beginning of National Socialism through the Second World War to Emden’s post-war reconstruction.

When choosing where to stay, it helps to distinguish between these themes: here, Jarßum is associated with Warfts, dike lines and the landscape of the Lower Ems; the wider destination of Emden adds art and urban history. This makes it possible to search for a holiday apartment based on your interests without conflating the different places and their distinctive features.

Discover more destinations: Logumer Vorwerk, Twixlum, Emden, Wybelsum, Hilmarsum Settlement, Petkum.

Go to the wider travel overview: Emden.