Emden

Emden is the main city in the historic region of East Frisia. Like 300 years ago, it lives off the port, from where Volkswagen cars are dispatched all over the world. The city-forming factory is located in the port as well.

The city is located on the border between Germany and Netherlands, so the local architecture combines the styles of both countries, as well as the language.


Truly historical buildings in the center were not preserved, the whole city was destroyed in 1944 during the bombing of the Allies. What you see now is the restored buildings: the old center was opened after reconstruction in 1962.




The city is well suited for long walks. Around the central part is an old city wall and a park, though only hills remained from the wall. Originally it was built in the early 17th century to protect the rich city.






There are several old mills on the bastions of the former wall.


And even an old bunker.


The water tower is one of the symbols of the city, built in 1910-12. The first construction in the city of reinforced concrete. Emden stands on the bay of the North Sea, so the groundwater in the area of the city is salty. At the end of the 19th century, there was a need for a large amount of water and wells were drilled 11 kilometers from the city. At that time the water run through the pipeline to a new water tower.




Also in the city is a rather large and picturesque promenade, where you can have a great walk at sunset.


Like other coastal cities in northern Germany, Emden was a very wealthy in the 17th century. Now the port has moved beyond the old city limits, and modern residential and office quarters are being built along the promenade. Only the port gates built in 1635 remained.






Many vessels moored on the embankment, the most interesting is the floating lighthouse (Feuerschiff Amrumbank), which helped other vessels off the coast. At the moment, the registry office and the museum are located on the vessel. In the background is the city hall.


Be careful with these sailors, they spit water.










Getting there: Emden Hbf train station, use bahn.de.