In Oldersum, harbor life and rope-making meet a greener side of the town. The Harbor Trail and the pumping station give water a central role, while the park offers a different accent with trees, ponds and an orchard.
Harbor Trail and Pumping Station
The approximately 500-meter-long Oldersum Harbor Trail runs from the Old Ropeworks along Hafenstraße. Four audio and visual stations interpret local craftsmanship, harbor life and Oldersum in Standard German, Low German and Dutch. The route is permanent; the operation of the audio and stations may depend on maintenance. In this way, the trail connects several local themes through a multilingual presentation.
The harbor district and the pumping station together form a waterside landscape. The pumping station also serves a technical function: depending on the water level, its large inland lock gates can release stored water into the Ems. The gates can therefore open, but they are not necessarily opened at any particular time. Oldersum’s landscape is thus defined both by its waterfront and by the pumping station’s water-dependent function.
The Old Ropeworks and Oldersum Park
The Old Ropeworks Museum in Oldersum presents rope-making through a restored rope-making workshop with machinery and tools. The exhibits bring the craft to life: the focus is not only on the ropes produced, but also on the workplace and the equipment used there. If you plan to visit the museum, check the visitor arrangements in advance, as they may vary.
Oldersum Park offers a nature walk among trees and ponds, outdoor fitness equipment and a landing stage where canoeists can take a break. An orchard with 80 varieties of apple is right next to the park. Nature, exercise and the orchard therefore sit side by side in the park; its focus differs clearly from the craftsmanship of the Old Ropeworks and the Harbor Trail.
More trails in the wider Moormerland destination
Beyond Oldersum, the wider Moormerland destination offers more themed trails. The Möncheweg is in the Jheringsfehn district and starts at Rudolfswieke. Information boards along the Möncheweg and the tree trail introduce visitors to different tree species. The 19-kilometer Frauenleben Tour offers a different cultural focus: six information boards bring to light the life stories of notable women from the past. The topics range from tree species to historical biographies.
The 31-kilometer Mühlen Route passes through a landscape once shaped by numerous mills; two mills remain in Moormerland. Neermoor Mill was built in 1884 as a three-story gallery Dutch windmill. Guided tours are offered regularly. If you plan to take a tour, it is best to confirm the arrangements in advance.
Water management is also the subject of its own route in the wider Moormerland destination: the 27-kilometer Siel Route explains how sluices in dikes allow inland water to drain while also withstanding the sea and storm surges. Comparing it with the Oldersum pumping station offers a thematic connection without equating the two places. For a longer option, the 50-kilometer Moormerland Route follows a circuit around the municipality.
Discover more destinations: Rorichum, Neermoor.
View the wider travel overview: Moormerland.
