Discover Nordholz: Aviation History and Coastal Nature

When choosing Nordholz as a destination, you can plan around a range of interests—from aviation history and churches to observing the harbor, Wadden Sea and salt marshes. The places and topics below offer practical ideas for planning your stay.

Aviation History at the Aeronauticum

The Aeronauticum’s museum hall covers around 1,000 square meters. Its exhibition areas, “Lighter-than-Air Flight” and “Heavier-than-Air Flight,” organize the museum’s themes. The permanent exhibitions explore the history of airship travel and the historical and technical development of naval aviation since 1913. The exhibition on naval aviation was redesigned in July 2021.

You can also factor travel into your plans: the Aeronauticum can be reached by taking the Cuxhaven–Bremerhaven rail line to Nordholz station. If you plan to travel by train, check the current timetable in advance.

Church and Congregation

The organ in Nordholz’s “Zum guten Hirten” church has 700 pipes. The “Zum Guten Hirten” church congregation welcomes guests to a range of activities, including services and social afternoons. So, alongside the exhibitions, church activities are another option to consider during your stay.

Fishing Harbor, Salt Marshes and Wadden Sea

At Spieka-Neufeld fishing harbor, you can watch shrimp trawlers set off on fishing trips or return. The waterfront also offers opportunities for walks and for watching birds and ships. The five-kilometer circular trail at Spieka-Neufeld runs north of the fishing harbor through the salt marshes—one way to combine harbor views with a longer walk through this landscape.

At Spieka-Neufeld’s green beach, the coastal landscape meets the Wadden Sea UNESCO World Heritage Site; the beach provides a habitat for numerous animals and plants. For a broader view of the landscape, visit the Cappel-Neufeld birdwatching tower. From there, you can look out over the Wadden Sea and the adjacent salt marshes. You can also observe numerous coastal and migratory birds in their natural surroundings.

The Wadden flats off Cappel-Neufeld are suitable for longer walks across the mudflats and activities such as Nordic walking on the flats. Cappel-Neufeld’s green beach has a naturist beach and a textile beach right next to each other. When planning your time by the water, you can choose between an activity on the mudflats, birdwatching and the two types of beach.

More to Explore in the Wider Destination of Wurster Nordseeküste

The wider destination of Wurster Nordseeküste offers more cultural and natural attractions. The origins of St. George’s Church in Spieka date back to 1319. St. Peter and Paul’s Church in Cappel is known for its 17th-century organ, built by Arp Schnitger. There are also four green-covered beaches along the Wurster North Sea Coast.

The Curious Shell Museum in Wremen offers a very different way to experience nature. It displays more than 3,000 shells and snail shells from around the world. The exhibits are not arranged according to scientific categories but are given names inspired by wordplay and the diversity of their shapes.

The Midlum Mill is also part of the region’s cultural history. It is a gallery-style Dutch windmill and one of the few remaining operational windmills of its kind in the district of Cuxhaven. The Meinecke family of millers built it in 1857 with two grist mills and a roller mill. Baking days and events are held regularly at the mill; if you have a particular date in mind, check the latest schedule in advance.

Discover more destinations: Oberndorf, Ringstedt, Osterbruch, Sandstedt, Hemmoor, Loxstedt, Beverstedt, Nordleda.

Back to the main travel guide: Cuxhaven.