At the edge of the Dollart mudflats stands the Kiekkaaste observation tower. At low tide, wading birds and ducks search for food in the mudflats in front of the tower. If you are interested in this behaviour, low tide is the relevant condition.

Mudflats and storm-surge landscape

Several storm surges shaped the Dollart in the 13th or 14th century; today, the bay covers approximately 100 km². Its history and approximate present-day area provide a sense of the landscape’s timescale and size.

The Wynhamster Kolk also tells a story of the effects of storm surges. In 1715, a storm surge breached the former dike, washing away the pastureland behind it. This created the kolk; the word means a pond or lake. At 72 ha, it was formerly the largest kolk in the Rheiderland.

Lifting water with wind power

The Wynhamster Kolk wind- and water-powered drainage mill in the village of Dollart was built in 1804. Its wind-driven sails operate a screw pump via a gear mechanism. The pump can lift up to 80 litres of water per second—a concrete measure of the pumping mechanism’s capacity. The mill offers its own way to explore the area’s water-management history, alongside the landscape shaped by storm surges.

Churches and distinctive architectural features

The Reformed Landschaftspolder Church in the village of Dollart was built in 1768 in the centre of Landschaftspolder. It is the only place of worship in the East Frisian polder areas. In Ditzumerverlaat, the church has a small roof turret for its bells, which is rare in East Frisia. The two places therefore have different architectural features: in Landschaftspolder, the church’s unique status takes centre stage, while in Ditzumerverlaat, it is a rare detail on the roof.

Cycling in Dollart

The Paddel und Pedal station is located in Ditzumerverlaat, which belongs to the village of Dollart and the municipality of Bunde. From there, for example, you can cycle to Ditzum and return by bike. Check the station’s current availability before your trip.

The International Dollard Route passes through the dike-row settlement of Ditzumerhammrich, which belongs to the Dollart district of Bunde, and continues to the Wynhamster Kolk. These are two separate details to consider when planning: the trip from the station mentions Ditzum and the return by bike, while the route includes Ditzumerhammrich and the Wynhamster Kolk.

More culture in the wider destination of Bunde

The wider destination of Bunde has its own historical points of interest. Bunde Mill was built in 1869 and extended in 1911 into a four-storey gallery Dutch windmill with an octagonal superstructure and a brick base. The nave of Bunde’s Evangelical Reformed Church dates from the early 13th century; the other parts were built in several phases. The transept and rectangular choir display elements of the Romano-Gothic style. The Dollart Museum is located at Rheiderlandstraße 3 in Bunde.

Discover more destinations: Bunderhee, Boen.

Go to the wider travel overview: Bunde.