Dersum lies between the Ems to the east and the Dutch border to the west. The old arm of the Ems, Rodo, is in the village; woodland and fields shape the landscape. Together, the river landscape and open countryside provide a distinctive setting for exploring local history and taking excursions in the region.
Cycling and getting here
Dersum has an extensive network of cycle paths and is also a starting point and gateway for excursions in the surrounding region. This means you can choose between cycling tours in the local area and destinations across the wider Emsland. The municipality is also well connected to the A31. If you plan to use this connection for your journey, check the latest traffic conditions; up-to-date path and route information is helpful for planning cycling trips.
Local history and cultural traces
The Bürgerbaum (Citizens’ Tree) brings together local industrial history and a depiction of social groups: the sculpture is associated with glassmaking in Dersum and represents craftsmen, farmers and the nobility. In this way, local craftsmanship and different social classes come together in a single work.
The history of St. Antonius Church can also be traced through specific dates. It was consecrated on January 17, 1866. On May 1, 1909, the chapel community of Dersum became an independent parish; in 2002, St. Antonius Parish Church underwent extensive renovation. These dates mark different stages: the consecration of the church, ecclesiastical independence and a later renovation.
St. Michael’s Chapel in Neudersum belongs to the parish of St. Antonius in Dersum. It has an independent community life, with groups such as altar servers, kfd, KLJB and a senior citizens’ group. Together, the church, chapel and Bürgerbaum offer different ways to explore local history and community life.
Excursions from Dersum and destinations in the Emsland
Excursion destinations from Dersum include the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg and Clemenswerth Palace in Sögel. The park at Clemenswerth Palace covers 42 hectares and includes the Gloriette, the garden pavilion of Elector Clemens August. For specific day-trip plans, it is a good idea to consult current route and visitor information.
Across the wider Emsland destination, the 395-kilometre Emsland Route offers its own regional cycling route. The circular route passes through five landscapes: Northern Ems Valley, HĂĽmmling, Bourtanger Moor, Hasetal and Southern Emsland. It is mostly flat, paved and traffic-free, and is considered particularly suitable for beginners and families with children. These characteristics apply to the Emsland Route; they do not automatically describe every cycle path in Dersum.
The Hümmling Nature Park is also in the wider Emsland destination, in the northeast of the district, and covers around 580 square kilometres. Cycling and hiking trails with information stations pass historical sites, megalithic tombs and Clemenswerth Palace. The Theikenmeer loop is one of the nature park’s trails that meets the quality criteria of the German Hiking Association.
One specific trail option there is the Kranichpfad (Crane Trail): it runs for about 2.5 kilometres into the Theikenmeer nature reserve; the same route is used for the return journey, making a total of around five kilometres. The trail features a viewing platform with panoramic views of Lake Theikenmeer and the moorland of Wehmer Dose, as well as a birdwatching hut on the lakeshore. This makes it possible to distinguish when planning between the local cycle path network, longer regional cycling routes and trails in the nature park.
Discover more destinations: Bawinkel, Haren / Ems, Werpeloh, Niederlangen, Stavern, Twist, Lingen, Walchum.
For the overall travel guide: Emsland.
