Ostermarsch between the Bird Trail and marshland history

Ostermarsch combines a landscape shaped by large farms and dwelling mounds with birdwatching and traces of dike history. The bird trail begins in the district and ends at the Osthafen in Norddeich; the Petersbörg wetland habitat and historic farmstead mounds offer other points of interest. If you are considering Ostermarsch as a travel destination, you can take nature and the development of the marshland into account when making your choice. The following places and connections provide a closer look at the area’s key features.

Marshland and dike history

Large farms, often situated on dwelling mounds, characterize the Ostermarsch district. The dwelling mounds had to be raised several times as sea levels rose. The dike lines can also be dated: the oldest dike line recorded during terrain mapping in this area is the Süderhaus line. The first dike ran 1 km south of, and parallel to, today’s Ostermarscher Landstraße, connecting the old dwelling mounds of Sieltog and Süderhaus.

During the larger-scale diking of 1576, a large polder was created between Lintelermarsch and Hagermarsch, almost 10 km long and ¾ to 1 km wide. Ostermarsch accounted for about one third of the polder’s length. The story therefore ranges from individual dwelling mounds and dike lines to the scale of this diking project.

Settlement traces in Ostermarsch

Three uninhabited medieval farmstead mounds have been preserved in Ostermarsch. Each of the preserved farmstead mounds contains two visible settlement horizons. They date approximately from the 12th to 13th century AD and are separated by a layer of clayey soil about 0.50 m thick. Their classification therefore depends not only on their medieval origins but also on the preserved sequence of two horizons with a layer in between.

Wetland habitat and bird trail

In Ostermarsch, the Petersbörg wetland habitat is located in the Altendeich area, 300 m north of the Petersbörg farmstead. It was designated a natural monument and placed under protection in October 1991. It is of great importance to waterbirds and serves as a resting, feeding and refuge area for various wading birds from areas beyond the dike, meadow birds and northern migratory birds.

The “Ostermarsch Bird Trail” is around 7.5 km long and has nine stops. It runs from the former village school at Otto-Leege-Platz in Ostermarsch to the observation hut at the Osthafen in Norddeich. The educational trail offers insights into the original coastal village, the East Frisian coastal marsh and the North Sea coast with the Wadden Sea. Both the history of the coastal village and the marsh and coastal landscape are therefore central to the route.

In the vicinity of Ostermarsch, there is also a birdwatching station at the Osthafen in Norddeich, sheltered from wind and rain. From there, the view extends as far as the island of Norderney. Information boards and a spotting scope offer insights into the birdlife of the Wadden Sea; the station is part of the approximately 7.5 km-long bird trail.

Bus connections

Ostermarsch is connected to local public transport by bus route 413, which runs between Norden/Norddeich and Dornumersiel. If you plan to travel by bus, check the timetable for your travel date.

Discover more destinations: Norddeich.

Go to the main travel overview: Norden.