Westoverledingen: Mill, Water Engineering and Natural Swimming Lakes

Westoverledingen offers a range of attractions for your stay: mill culture, a themed route about water engineering, and seasonal activities at natural swimming lakes. If you are looking for a hotel, you can start by considering which of these interests you want to shape your stay.

Mitling-Mark Mill Complex: History and Craftsmanship

The Mitling-Mark mill complex includes a Dutch gallery mill. After a fire caused by a lightning strike in 1842, it was rebuilt in 1843; its rustic interior has been preserved in its original condition. The dates provide a brief account of the rebuilding, while the preserved fittings draw attention to the interior.

The miller’s house next to the complex houses the “Grandma’s Kitchen” museum collection, with around 800 exhibits, all decorated with the Delft mill pattern. At the bakehouse, visitors are introduced to the art of breadmaking. This location brings together the distinct themes of building history, a collection and craftsmanship.

Water Engineering and Hedgerows

The 23-kilometre “Water Engineering Route” in Westoverledingen can be explored by bicycle, on foot or by car. It conveys the history of how people have dealt with the forces of nature. Its length distinguishes this themed route from a single visitor attraction.

In Ihren, information boards explain hedgerows and the “star hedgerow” along the former Ihrhove–Westrhauderfehn light railway line. While the Water Engineering Route explores the history of how people have dealt with the forces of nature, the boards in Ihren focus on hedgerows and the star hedgerow. The two attractions therefore cover different themes: water engineering history on the one hand, and hedgerows on the other.

Natural Swimming Lakes and Leisure Park

The natural swimming lakes in Völlen, Steenfelde and Grotegaste offer opportunities for swimming and playing in the water and sand. Playgrounds by the lakes are another leisure option. Water quality is checked regularly; swimming is seasonal.

The “Am Emsdeich” leisure park has an accessible playground for all generations directly beside a large natural swimming lake with a sandy beach and sunbathing lawns. This site is described in more detail than the general overview of the natural swimming lakes: here, the playground, lake and specified shore areas are all together.

Plan Your Stay Around Your Interests

These differences can help you choose the focus of your stay or plan for several interests.

Culture in the Wider Destination of Leer

In the wider destination of Leer, the Former Jewish School in Leer is a memorial and meeting place run by the district of Leer. Evenburg Castle in Leer is a cultural monument of significance beyond the region and consists of the castle, park and outer bailey. Since May 2014, it has been open with a permanent exhibition on the life and livelihood of an aristocratic family in the 19th century, as well as serving as a centre for garden culture.

The Leer Local History Museum also focuses on East Frisian domestic culture and local shipping. The Bünting Tea Museum covers the cultivation, production and preparation of tea on two floors, as well as the history of East Frisia’s favourite drink. Thus, the wider destination of Leer offers museums with different cultural themes alongside a memorial and a castle.

Discover more destinations: Ostrhauderfehn, Leer, Firrel, Jemgum, Holtland, Bingum, Nortmoor, Rhauderfehn

Go to the wider travel overview: Leer.