Saterland brings together several distinct ways to explore its lakes and moors: at Hollener See, the focus is on the beach, swimming, and opportunities for walks or hikes; in Strücklingen, canoeing takes you along the Sagter Ems. The Imkehörne nature reserve and the Seelter Foonkieker add raised bog experiences. When planning, it is therefore worth first deciding whether you would rather spend time by the lake, include a canoe trip, or discover the moorland and its history.
Water at the lake, on the river and in the pool
Hollener See is located in Ramsloh/Hollen and covers 9.5 hectares. There is a bathing beach by the lake, which is also suitable for swimming, walking and hiking. You can shape your outing around time by the water or physical activity on a walk or hike.
The paddle-and-pedal station in Strücklingen offers a different kind of water activity: visitors can go canoeing on the Sagter Ems. Unlike at the lake, the focus here is on a canoe trip. Check the station’s current operating arrangements in advance.
The Saterland leisure pool adds a swimming area for young children and a 25 Ă— 10 m pool to the options. It also has a 1-m diving board and a 3-m diving tower. The differences between the water activities are clear: the bathing beach and activities at Hollener See, a canoe trip on the Sagter Ems, or the pools at the leisure centre.
Experience and understand the raised bog
The Imkehörne nature reserve is a raised bog area in Saterland/Strücklingen. A platform with information boards offers views across the bog. The viewpoint and boards give your visit a distinct focus: you can take in the moorland and use the information provided on site.
The Seelter Foonkieker is a peat railway ride operated by the “Moorkultur Ramsloh” peat works. Guests discover the moorland and its soft peat soil. During the ride, they also learn about the formation of raised bogs, peat extraction and renaturalisation. The experience combines exploring the moorland with learning about its history and transformation. Check the current operating arrangements before planning a ride.
Windmill and the Sater Frisian language
The Galerie-Holländer windmill in Scharrel was built in 1870. Visits are possible by prior arrangement, so please coordinate your visit in advance. The year it was built gives the mill a specific historical significance, while arranging a time is important for planning.
The language is another distinctive part of Saterland’s cultural heritage: “Seelterlound” is the name of Saterland in the Sater Frisian language. Sater Frisian is a dialect of the Frisian language that contains elements of Low German. The Sater Frisian name and its linguistic classification offer another way to discover the region’s culture, whether your focus is on water, moorland or the history of the mill.
An additional cultural highlight in the wider Cloppenburg travel destination
In the wider Cloppenburg travel destination, the Museumsdorf Cloppenburg – Lower Saxon Open-Air Museum uses around 60 historic buildings to offer insight into the living conditions of the rural population of northwestern Germany. The period represented stretches from the late Middle Ages to the 1980s. This regional cultural highlight complements the local themes of Saterland without replacing them.
Discover more destinations: Molbergen, Cloppenburg, Lindern, Essen, Cappeln, Bösel, Petersfeld, Emstek.
Back to the wider travel overview: Cloppenburg.
