Leezdorf developed as a dispersed settlement, a pattern that is still visible in the layout of the village today. The Leezdorf Mill is the town’s landmark. These two features offer different points of reference for finding your way around: the shape of the settlement and a striking building. There is also a large market square in the town centre, where village and mill festivals are held regularly. If a festival is the reason for your trip, check the dates for your travel period in advance.
The mill: history and use
The Leezdorf Mill is a two-storey gallery Dutch windmill, built in 1896/97. Its design and construction date offer two concrete starting points for looking at the building. The mill houses the “Oll bruukdom” exhibition room. A former storage room has also been converted into a tea room. The mill brings together its architectural history, an exhibition and the former use of one of its rooms. If you would like to include the tea room in your plans, check its availability before your trip. The Leezdorf local history association received third prize for outstanding heritage conservation in the Weser-Ems region for restoring the mill.
Garden themes in Leezdorf
Schittenhelm Garden Centre offers a different focus. Its themed areas include a fairy garden, a bamboo grove and a woodland garden, inviting you to stroll and explore. The garden names give you a range of themes to choose from even before you arrive. Check the garden centre’s opening conditions before your visit. This makes it easy to plan a garden visit as a separate highlight alongside mill culture or a cycling trip.
Two cycling routes, different highlights
The “Torfkanäle und Treidelwege” (Peat Canals and Towing Paths) route passes the Leezdorf Mill before heading towards Hage and Lütetsburg. Along the way, it runs past small farms, fields and pastureland. Another option is the 29.1-kilometre “Zu den Likedeelern” (In the Footsteps of the Likedeelers) circular route, which starts in Marienhafe, passes through Leezdorf, Hage and Norden, and returns to Marienhafe. The differences can help you choose: the first route focuses on the mill and the surrounding landscape, while the second offers a circular itinerary, a total distance and a sequence of towns. If you are planning the circular route, check the route conditions before setting out.
In the wider Aurich destination
In the wider Aurich destination, the Fehntjer Tief nature conservation station is an off-site learning centre for environmental education, as well as a place for meeting and public outreach. It works to preserve the natural and cultural landscape of the “Fehntjer Tief”. In spring and summer, students and visitors can explore the plants and birdlife of the Fehntjer Tief’s wet meadows on walks and cycling trips. The listed Gulfhaus at the station is a typical East Frisian farmhouse dating from 1843.
Discover more destinations: Upgant-Schott, Ihlow, Krummhörn, Südbrookmerland, Hinte, Rechtsupweg, Wiesmoor, Wirdum
For the overview of the wider destination: Aurich.
