Neukamperfehn lies in a former moorland area in central East Frisia. Fehn canals, locks, and the history of the Fehn settlements give a trip here a clear thematic focus. There is also a convenient stopping point for cycling tourists: a rest area with seating is located right by the lock on the Hauptfehn Canal. If you are traveling along this stretch, it offers a place to take a break.
Fehn Settlements and Their History
Stiekelkamperfehn is a 350-year-old Fehn settlement. St. Nicholas Church and the parish community center form the village center. The Kleine Hesel Tour passes through Neukamperfehn and Stiekelkamperfehn, so both place names are part of this tour’s route.
Neuefehn adds another historical time frame: Albert and Cord Jobus founded the village in 1660. In 1880/81, shipping and crafts shaped Neuefehn’s economy. The dates mark different aspects of its history: 1660 refers to its founding, while the later dates relate to the industries that shaped its economy. Gut Stikelkamp was once an outpost of the Johanniter monastery in Hasselt. An archaeological exhibition explores the history of Barthe Monastery.
Cycling and Hiking Routes in the Region
The Hesel collective municipality lies directly on the German Fehn Route. The route operator gives its length as 173 kilometers; this figure may change. The route is signposted for car and bicycle traffic in both directions. It is also useful to distinguish between a signposted long-distance route and a specific place to stop locally: the rest area in Neukamperfehn is by the lock on the Hauptfehn Canal and offers seating.
The East Frisian Hiking Trail offers a different perspective. This 97-kilometer route passes through the Hesel collective municipality and includes Fehn canals with white lift bridges. You can also explore the municipality’s hedgerow landscape by bike, where hedgerows stretch for several hundred kilometers. For trip planning, both routes and landscape features are relevant, without needing to combine them into a single route.
More Topics for Planning Your Trip
Hasselt Water Park presents the history and technology of water supply in a natural setting. At Gut Stikelkamp, there are picnic tables, benches, and a small playground. Check the condition of these facilities before your visit. The topic of water supply offers a different focus from the history of the Fehn settlements; together with the historical significance of Gut Stikelkamp and the exhibition on the history of Barthe Monastery, they offer a range of cultural and technical interests.
An Urban Cultural Highlight in the Wider Destination of Leer
In the wider destination of Leer, the town of Leer offers a different focus. Public town tours last 1.5 hours and pass, among other places, the old town hall, the historic weigh house, and Haus Samson. The Amsterdam-style gabled house Haus Samson has adorned the old town since 1643. The Bünting Tea Museum also offers something different: across two floors, it covers tea cultivation, production, and preparation, as well as the history of East Frisia’s favorite drink. This lets you distinguish between Fehn villages, routes, and the themes of the town of Leer when planning your trip.
Discover more destinations: Nortmoor, Bunde, Moormerland, Filsum, Firrel, Rhauderfehn, Brinkum, Jemgum
See the wider travel overview: Leer.
