The Geeste Reservoir brings water into focus: it covers 180 hectares, and its bathing beach stretches for 850 meters. But Geeste looks beyond the water, too. Activity trails, moorland and museums offer further themes for planning a trip—from observing nature to exploring regional history.
Water and Nature in Geeste
At the Geeste Reservoir, the activity trail focuses on birdlife and the sounds of the forest and lake. The activity trail in the Dalum-Wietmarschen Moor has a different focus: dragonflies. The two trails therefore explore distinctly different nature themes. The municipality of Geeste is also part of the International Bourtanger Moor–Bargerveen Nature Park.
In Varloh, the “Drinking Water Experience Trail” traces the water cycle. Around 35 information boards, illustrative exhibits and learning games at the exhibits complement the trail. Text, visual materials and interactive elements all explore the same theme. Those interested in water can find a dedicated introduction to the water cycle here, in addition to the reservoir.
Sailing is another theme in the municipality: the Speichersee Emsland Sailing Club teaches children, young people and adults the basics. Training covers both single-handed and double-handed boats. This adds a practical introduction to sailing, distinct from the nature trails and the water cycle.
Places of Remembrance and Regional History
In Dalum, the transformer station and guard building of the former Nazi Emsland Camp XII have been restored in keeping with their listed status. They are open to visitors as the “LAGER XII DALUM” memorial site. The exhibition provides information about the camps and war cemeteries in Emsland and Grafschaft Bentheim. The memorial site thus connects the history of the former camp with remembrance of war cemeteries in both regions.
The Emsland Moor Museum in Groß Hesepe presents past ways of life and work in two modern halls, with more than 2,500 square meters of exhibition space. The museum also includes a reconstructed settler farmstead from the 1930s: the “Siedlerhof,” designated an “Arche-Hof.” Old regional livestock breeds are kept there, including Bentheim sheep and Bentheim pigs. The exhibitions in the halls and the farmstead with its animals offer different insights into life and work in the region.
The 800-year-old St. Nicholas Church in Groß Hesepe is also a protected historic monument. The film museum in Osterbrock offers a different cultural focus, presenting more than 300 cameras, 50 projectors and numerous editing devices. While the church and memorial site explore historical themes, the museum turns the spotlight on film technology and its equipment.
When planning your trip, it helps to choose the focus that interests you most: Geeste offers themes related to the lake and nature observation, as well as insights into regional ways of life and work, remembrance and film technology. These different interests can help determine what you look for first in your trip and accommodation.
Discover more destinations: Lehe, Dersum, Renkenberge, Esterwegen, Walchum, Bawinkel, Werlte, Niederlangen
Return to the regional travel overview: Emsland.
