Discover Kleinhesel: History, Forest and Trails

The wider destination of Hesel also comes into play; its attractions are explicitly identified here as part of the regional context. This lets you consider whether cultural history, walks, or hiking and cycling routes fit your travel plans.

Local History and Culture in the Surrounding Area

Kleinhesel was established as a settlement in 1809 in the “Vorwerker Moor” of the Hesel Johanniter estate. Another historical insight dates to 1884: at that time, 143 hectares of peat bog were sold to 32 colonists from Kiefeld and Kleinhesel to improve their economic situation. These details relate to different periods in the area’s history: the founding of the settlement and a later sale of bogland with an explicitly stated economic purpose.

The Barthe Monastery, located in the area around Kleinhesel, existed from the late 12th to the early 16th century as a convent of the Premonstratensian Order. It was the order’s first establishment in East Frisia. The archaeological exhibition at Villa Popken focuses on the monastery’s history. In the wider destination of Hesel, the same exhibition also presents the settlement history of the Geest village of Hesel, from the Stone and Bronze Ages through to the Middle Ages.

The Ludgeri Church in Hesel also offers its own historical connection: the medieval church building had to be demolished because it was dilapidated, and a new church was built in 1742. The pulpit and altar date from an earlier period. Tönnies Mahler of Leer, a carpenter, woodcarver and panel painter, created them in 1653. The pulpit has corner columns and reliefs of the Evangelists; the altar features a painting of the Last Supper. At Barthe, the focus is on the medieval history of the order; at the church, it is on the building’s history and furnishings.

Forest, Walks and Activities

In the area around Kleinhesel, the Hesel Forest features a distinctive dune landscape that is considered clear evidence of human intervention in nature. The Hesel Forest is the largest continuous forest area in southern East Frisia. There are opportunities for hiking, jogging, Nordic walking and leisurely walks. The options range from peaceful strolls to more active forms of exercise, without requiring a particular route.

The park and woodland at Gut Stikelkamp, with their avenues of beech and lime trees, invite visitors to enjoy long walks. A historic sawmill is also located there, in the area around Kleinhesel. A group from the Fehntjer Citizens’ Association demonstrates how it works regularly on Saturdays; check the dates before your visit. This allows you to distinguish between walking opportunities at the estate and planning a visit specifically to include a demonstration.

The “Sieben-Bergen” adventure forest playground is also located in the area around Kleinhesel, among sand dunes and trees. Its play features include slides, a locomotive and a zip line. These are specific points of interest for anyone looking for a place to play when planning a visit, rather than focusing on forest walks or cultural history.

Trails and Excursion Destinations in the Wider Destination of Hesel

The following attractions belong to the explicitly wider destination of Hesel or the Samtgemeinde Hesel. There are several hundred kilometres of well-preserved hedgerows there. They provide a habitat for many animals and plants and can be explored by bicycle. The German Fehn Route is 173 kilometres long and is signposted in both directions through the Samtgemeinde Hesel as a driving and cycling route.

The 97-kilometre Ostfriesland Hiking Trail runs through the Samtgemeinde Hesel along a former narrow-gauge railway line to the North Sea coast. By contrast, the 41-kilometre Hesel Experience Route is a cycling tour that includes, among other things, a river crossing on a “do-it-yourself ferry.” Seasonal ferry service may vary; check whether the crossing is available on your chosen date before making plans. The routes described thus differ in mode of transport and course, and are not combined into a single route.

The swimming pool in Hesel is also part of the wider destination of Hesel. Its pool measures 16.66 × 8.00 metres and has a movable floor. Following renovations in 2013/2014 and 2023/2024, it is once again open to the public.

Travelling by Bus

The timetable dated 13 August 2026 lists bus route 479 from Jheringsfehn to Leer via Neukamperfehn, Klein Hesel and Holtland. For Kleinhesel, it lists the stops Dorfstr./Unterführung, Osterstr./Dorfstr. and Osterstr./Norderstr. Check the details for your travel date before setting off.

Discover more destinations: Beningafehn, Neuemoor, Siebestock.

Back to the wider travel overview: Hesel.