We’ve been living in Groningen, the Netherlands for a while now and sometimes, it just feels great to cross the country borders and visit Germany. If only for a day, if you know what I mean. After weeks of renovation, we decided that we really needed a break and set out to see all the cool things to do in Emden, Germany.
Honestly, this should have been a pretty easy journey for us. A quick one and a half hour drive back and forth. Unfortunately nothing ever works out the way you plan. With a storm on our heels we found out just how strong the North sea winds can be and our poor stroller landed up in the canals of Emden. Sigh!
To say that the excursion in the city started out on a bad note is an understatement. We eventually did have a pretty great time which is a testament to how amazing the place is. You will find that despite the small nature of the port city, there are a surprising number of things to do in Emden.
So just tag along with me and I’ll tell you how we turned the day around!
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Table of Contents
All About Emden, Germany
Emden is a small city in Ostfriesland Germany. It lies at the mouth of the river Ems and makes it one of the important port cities in the area. In fact, it is also the biggest and main city in the area. Generally speaking, the city does not get a lot of tourists.
In fact, when we visited (in peak summer) there were barely any crowds. Mind you, we visited on a weekend which generally is crowded in all popular tourist spots.
Getting To Emden
The best way to get to Emden is to drive. It is super easy even if you are crossing over from the Netherlands. If you rely on public transport, you will find that there is a bus that leaves from Leer in Ostfriesland and it is a quick ride over.
Parking In Emden
If you are looking for parking in Emden, you will probably run around in circles. My advice is to park a little away from the city center. The city is not large and all the things to do in Emden are a walking distance away. Plus, any parking lot that is close to the city is usually paid parking. The free parking is just about 300 meters further.
Things To Do In Emden, Germany
Now that we have all the details about visiting the city covered, let’s talk about all the things to do in Emden, Germany. These popular and lesser attractions will convince you to take a trip to this northern port city in Ostfriesland.
1. Georg Breusing
The Georg Breusing is one of the top things to do in Emden Germany that you should not miss.
This is one landmark that I am never going to forget. The ship is a museum of sorts. We were allowed to walk along the top of the ship for free but to visit the inside of the ship you need to pay the museum entrance fee.
Our daughters kept calling it the sea patroller from their favorite show Paw Patrol. Obviously we had to enter. Unfortunately while we were exploring the bunks, the radios and all the other knick knacks of the boat, our stroller got swept away.
The people here however were extremely helpful and even tried to get the stroller back. Would I recommend visiting? Definitely! Just make sure you have your belongings locked down!
2. Dat Otto Huus
Dat Otto Huus is one of the iconic things to do in Emden, Germany.
We unfortunately did not get a chance to enter the Otto Haus because we were too late but it is one of the most famous things to do in Emden, Germany. The museum is dedicated to a cartoon elephant and the building is unmistakable from afar.
If you plan on heading here, I would recommend checking out the museum timings before you leave or you may land up being disappointed like us. Oh and if you are looking for local souvenirs from Germany, here is where you will get something specific to the city of Emden.
3. Delftspucker
The three statues are one of the coolest attractions in Emden Germany.
This is a super cute art installation. The three men look as if they are gazing out in the distance. They spit sporadically which makes the art pretty intriguing. You’ll find people gathering around waiting for them to throw a projectile of water. It elicits giggles from unsuspecting tourists all the time.
4. Kesselscheuse / Crossed Locks In Emden
Walk a bit away from the main city and you will find yourself in a park. This park has a canal that borders it on one side. It has loads of attractions. One of which is the Kesselscheuse. These are the crossed locks in Emden and are super interesting.
The circular section and the intersection of the canals serves as a sort of water bridge for the boats. While we were there, the water level in the canal moving from east to west was a couple of feet lower than the canal moving from north to south. It was interesting to see how they operated the intersection so that the boats could move in different directions.
5. The Emder Wall
The Emder wall is fascinating. It was built in the 17h century and served as a fortification to protect Emden during wars. The reason why the wall is extremely interesting is because of the degree in which it has been currently preserved. You can see all the kennels as you walk along. Back then there were windmills in all of them. Today, only 2 remain standing. Of which only one has its blades. The other is used as a kindergarten.
Today, this same wall serves a recreation area for the people that live in the city. It is an amazing green space and holds a lot of the things to do in Emden here. Makes it one of the best reasons to head out of the city center and explore this part of town.
6. De Vrouw Johanna
De Vrouw Johanna is an old windmill that is still standing in the park. Unlike the red mill, this one still has its blades and looks almost as if it can start up again. You can admire the windmill from the outside or if it is open, visit the interiors of the mill. It is surprisingly large on the inside.
A fun fact is that the windmill can be rented out for occasions and the day that we visited, they were setting it up for a summer party. That was why we couldn’t visit the higher floors. Still, we had a lot of fun exploring the grounds.
7. Watersports
With so many canals, beaches and the port nearby, it should not come as a surprise that one of the most popular things to do in Emden is watersports. On a good day you will find people kayaking, canoeing, paddle boating and more. In fact, watersports is one of the reasons why people head to this pretty city.
8. Spielplatz Am Brauersgraben
If you are headed to the city with kids then I highly recommend visiting the Spielplatz Am Brauersgraben. This park has an amazing playground for kids of all ages. It is also pretty safe. The park is a place where all kinds of festivities are held so if you are lucky, there will be fun for people of all ages within a 10 meter radius!
9. Chill At Café Einstein
Cafe Einstein is one of the best places to chill at Emden Germany
One of my absolute favorite places in the city is Café Einstein. It is located right next to the playground and it is a super quirky café. It has some great indoor and outdoor seating areas, comfortable lounge chairs and plenty of books to keep children entertained. There is also a foosball table and a Ping-Pong table so you have plenty to do too!
The main attraction here however are the delicious homemade cakes. We bought two enormous slices and barely managed to finish them between the four of us. The coffees are great too! Plus the staff are super helpful and fun to talk to!
10. Bittners Fischspezialitäten
One of the top things to do in Emden is to eat some fried fish.
You can’t head to a port city and not indulge in a bit of fish. Seriously! I mean unless you are vegetarian or vegan or just don’t eat fish that is. One of the best things to do in Emden, Germany is to head to Bittners Fischspezialitäten to get some of the local fried fish. We tried a burger with fried fish and mayo which was delicious. Mind you, I’m not the biggest fan of deep fried fish but even I enjoyed it.
The only downside is that the place is always crowded so odds are you will stand in line for at least 15-30 minutes. The wait is totally worth it! I mean you know a place is good when locals stand in line for that long!
Germany has a lot to offer. Many of the better known cities receive loads of tourists every year. In order to get away from the crowds, I always advocate exploring the smaller towns. Some places like Ostfriesland have loads to offer.
There so many things to do in Emden Germany for example. It is also cheaper to visit and stay here. Plus the lack of crowds makes it the perfect spot for a vacation!
