Beningafehn: Moor Settlement, Community Life and History

Beningafehn is a moor settlement with a history dating back to the 18th century. The town’s profile also includes a long-standing theatre group, regularly held baking days and Low German tea afternoons. Both the town’s origins and its range of event formats are at the heart of its story.

From “Louwermans Vehn” to Beningafehn

In 1772, Privy Councillor Arent Jan van Louwerman founded the fen settlement as “Louwermans Vehn”. It was established in a moorland area between Kiefeld and Gut Stikelkamp, within the Hesel cadastral district. In 1788, the settlement was sold to the Lantzius-Beninga family, whose estate was at Gut Stikelkamp. It was named Beningafehn after the family. The term “moor settlement” and this sequence of events offer two different insights into the town: its location at the time of its founding and the history behind its name.

Community Life and Events

The Beningafehn theatre group has been in existence for over 50 years. The baking days also have a long tradition: they have been held regularly for many years by the Heimatverein Beningafehn e.V. von 1990 and the Boßelverein Beningafehn e.V. von 1981.

The monthly tea afternoons at the Vehnhus in Beningafehn offer a different kind of event. They feature readings, theatre performances and occasional talks; the afternoon is conducted in Low German, and homemade cake is served. The different frequencies can help with your planning: baking days are held regularly, while tea afternoons take place monthly. If you would like to plan your trip around a specific date, check the current event schedule in advance.

History and Nature in the Wider Destination of Hesel

In the wider destination of Hesel, the Archaeological Exhibition at Villa Popken presents the settlement history of the Geest town of Hesel, from the Stone and Bronze Ages through to the Middle Ages. One of its main focuses is the history of Barthe Monastery in the Hesel Forest.

The Ludgeri Church in Hesel also bears witness to different periods of construction. The medieval church had to be demolished because it had fallen into disrepair; a new church was built in 1742. The pulpit with corner columns and reliefs of the Evangelists, as well as the altar with its Last Supper painting, were created in 1653 by Tönnies Mahler from Leer. He was a carpenter, woodcarver and panel painter. Gut Stikelkamp was once an outlying estate of the former Johanniterkloster Hasselt; its manor house showcases the upper-farming-class domestic culture of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.

Forest Trails and a Cycling Route in Hesel

The Hesel Forest is ideal for long walks and observing local wildlife. The forest also has an adventure playground and a tree trail. Around Gut Stikelkamp, approximately 5 km of forest trails invite you to go for a walk.

For a cycling trip, there is the 41 km Hesel Adventure Route. It includes, among other things, a river crossing on a “do-it-yourself ferry”. As seasonal ferry operations may vary, check before setting out. The forest trails and cycling route offer different ways to experience Hesel: one is for walks and wildlife observation, while the other combines cycling with a ferry crossing.

Discover more destinations: Siebestock, Kleinhesel, Neuemoor

Go to the overview of the wider destination: Hesel.