Delmenhorst

Delmenhorst is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany with almost 75,000 citizens. It is first cited in a document from 1247. In the late 19th century, Delmenhorst became an industrial city among other factories with the city's biggest factory, Nordwolle. In the present days a traveller can find a lot of exhibits of the history in the now-modern city.

Due to its long history, the style of buildings vary in the city's center. Around the turn of the century, the city planners wanted to create an 'ideal city' with new building styles. Many buildings at the city's main shopping street, Lange Straße, look very different yet interesting.

German obviously is the first language. However there are quite a lot of people who can also speak some English. You might want to try to speak a little slower, as it might increase your chance to be understood ;). Especially young people speak English. So, if you have a problem, there will probably always be someone who can help you out by translating. Also you might have the chance to speak Turkish at some places, like the numerous kebap shops.

• Burginsel, In the middle of the Graft. This is the island of the Delmenhorst castle, destroyed in 1711. The castle was called Wasserburg (Water Castle). There was a small tower, Blauer Turm (Blue Tower), which stood a little longer - until 1787. The Blauer Turm is the main tile on Delmenhorsts Coat of Arms.
• Graft. The Graft is the big, green lung in the center of Delmenhorst. Its creation was concluded on May 8, 1905. There are two parts of it, the inner and the outer part. The inner part was created once to be a park around the castle. Walk around a little and enjoy the nice scenery with small creeks of the Delme. Also you can do some minigolfing or hire a boat (May to September).
• Kleines Haus, Max-Planck-Str. 4, +49 4221 1 65 65. The Kleines Haus is the theater in Delmenhorst. Of course most shows are in German, but maybe you just want to join one show to feel old-school theater style and friendly people around. €18-24.
• Kartoffelfest. Beginning of October. Yes, the main setting is about the potato. But also you can see and buy hand-crafted goods and eat some potatoes in all different ways of preparation.
• Kramermarkt, Graftwiesen (The big parking lot next to the Graft. The Kramer market is a traditional folk festival with fun rides and tasty food. It occurs twice a year, in the end of April and in the middle of September. Almost every citizen is at least once a year there. In the opening there is a procession and fireworks take place in the night at the beginning and in the last night. One day, typically Tuesday, is family day. Everything is then a little cheaper. The festival is the oldest festival in the city.
• Museumsmühle, Hasberger Dorfstraße 1, +49 4221-41803. The historic mill is located north in the city in the district Hasbergen. In 1950 an electric motor was installed to power the turbine. In 1986 the mill was deactivated. Later, in 1991, a museum was installed. It shows the history of the still working mill and the structure needed to build and use such a mill.
• Nordwolle, Am Turbinenhaus 10-12, +49 4221-29858-20. Tu-Fr & Su, 9am-5pm. The Nordwolle was the biggest factory in Delmenhorst. It produced wool. The production started in 1884 and was stopped 1981. Afterwards, new businesses became part of the site. Now over 1000 people live and work there. Make a tour in the museum or just walk around at the site and take a look at the astonishing architecture out of 1890. The name of the museum is Nordwestdeutsche Museum für IndustrieKultur. The site is part of the European Route of Industrial Heritage.
• Wasserturm. Sa, 11am-1pm. 1st and 3rd Su in month, 3pm-5pm. The old water tower is located next to the city hall. Years ago the 44 meters high tower should be the sign for a new Delmenhorst. Nowadays the well-known building is one of the highest ones in downtown. You can get up to the viewing platform and have a nice view over the city.
• Weihnachtsmarkt, City hall square. End of November until Christmas. The christmas market is another traditional market in Delmenhorst. Buy some Bratapfel (apple in a candy glaze) or drink some Glühwein (hot wine punch - it's really good!). Also some fun rides and more food is available.
• Wochenmarkt, City hall square. Also called Rathausmarkt (city hall market). This is the biggest farmers market in Delmenhorst. Just walk around and see some traditional trading. But do that before 1pm, because the market closes then.

Burginsel, In the middle of the Graft. This is the island of the Delmenhorst castle, destroyed in 1711. The castle was called Wasserburg (Water Castle). There was a small tower, Blauer Turm (Blue Tower), which stood a little longer - until 1787. The Blauer Turm is the main tile on Delmenhorsts Coat of Arms.

Graft. The Graft is the big, green lung in the center of Delmenhorst. Its creation was concluded on May 8, 1905. There are two parts of it, the inner and the outer part. The inner part was created once to be a park around the castle. Walk around a little and enjoy the nice scenery with small creeks of the Delme. Also you can do some minigolfing or hire a boat (May to September).

Kleines Haus, Max-Planck-Str. 4, +49 4221 1 65 65. The Kleines Haus is the theater in Delmenhorst. Of course most shows are in German, but maybe you just want to join one show to feel old-school theater style and friendly people around. €18-24.

Kartoffelfest. Beginning of October. Yes, the main setting is about the potato. But also you can see and buy hand-crafted goods and eat some potatoes in all different ways of preparation.

Kramermarkt, Graftwiesen (The big parking lot next to the Graft. The Kramer market is a traditional folk festival with fun rides and tasty food. It occurs twice a year, in the end of April and in the middle of September. Almost every citizen is at least once a year there. In the opening there is a procession and fireworks take place in the night at the beginning and in the last night. One day, typically Tuesday, is family day. Everything is then a little cheaper. The festival is the oldest festival in the city.

Museumsmühle, Hasberger Dorfstraße 1, +49 4221-41803. The historic mill is located north in the city in the district Hasbergen. In 1950 an electric motor was installed to power the turbine. In 1986 the mill was deactivated. Later, in 1991, a museum was installed. It shows the history of the still working mill and the structure needed to build and use such a mill.

Nordwolle, Am Turbinenhaus 10-12, +49 4221-29858-20. Tu-Fr & Su, 9am-5pm. The Nordwolle was the biggest factory in Delmenhorst. It produced wool. The production started in 1884 and was stopped 1981. Afterwards, new businesses became part of the site. Now over 1000 people live and work there. Make a tour in the museum or just walk around at the site and take a look at the astonishing architecture out of 1890. The name of the museum is Nordwestdeutsche Museum für IndustrieKultur. The site is part of the European Route of Industrial Heritage.

Wasserturm. Sa, 11am-1pm. 1st and 3rd Su in month, 3pm-5pm. The old water tower is located next to the city hall. Years ago the 44 meters high tower should be the sign for a new Delmenhorst. Nowadays the well-known building is one of the highest ones in downtown. You can get up to the viewing platform and have a nice view over the city.

Weihnachtsmarkt, City hall square. End of November until Christmas. The christmas market is another traditional market in Delmenhorst. Buy some Bratapfel (apple in a candy glaze) or drink some Glühwein (hot wine punch - it's really good!). Also some fun rides and more food is available.

Wochenmarkt, City hall square. Also called Rathausmarkt (city hall market). This is the biggest farmers market in Delmenhorst. Just walk around and see some traditional trading. But do that before 1pm, because the market closes then.

• Bicycle tours. Delmenhorst offers six different bicycle routes through and around the city. All are well-marked and either off beaten paths or separates lanes. The maps for the routes can be bought in the city hall at the Stadtmarketing GmbH. They are called Radwanderkarte and cost €2.90. You can find the signs for the tours all over the place. They look like the following description: On top you see a bicicler and in the lower part you'll see, e.g. R 1 for route 1.
• GraftTherme, Am Stadtbad (Next to the big parking lot Graftwiesen, +49 4221 12760. Mo-Fr, 10am-9pm; Sa-So, 8am-7pm. The GraftTherme is a public swimming pool with lots of things to do. You have a general swimming area inside and outside, a big slide, an adventorous area, a restaurant and more. Inside area: (TODO: Update prices for GraftTherme!). Parking is free.
• Jute Bowl, Weberstraße (Behind the central station, +49 4221 123696. Jute Bowl is a bowling center located right in the middle of the town. They offer different kinds of events. Have a beer here or play some pool.
• Segelfliegen, Große Höhe, +49 4222 2710. March–October, every weekend 9am-6pm. If you want to do some gliding, here might be the right place. Since north Germany is very flat it is easy to fly without obstacles. They offer weekend courses for beginners. The Grosse Höhe is located east of Delmenhorst. Look here (, German) for a map. €50 for a beginners weekend.
• Museumsbahn, +49 4244 9355-0. Only some days between May and October. The museum train "Jan Harpstedt" is located in the town Harpstedt. Take a tour in the old, steam-powered train over a station south in Delmenhorst (at the Grüne Straße) to the town Lemwerder. You can buy food and they take your bicycle on board. Adult: from €7, bike extra (buy in the train).

Bicycle tours. Delmenhorst offers six different bicycle routes through and around the city. All are well-marked and either off beaten paths or separates lanes. The maps for the routes can be bought in the city hall at the Stadtmarketing GmbH. They are called Radwanderkarte and cost €2.90. You can find the signs for the tours all over the place. They look like the following description: On top you see a bicicler and in the lower part you'll see, e.g. R 1 for route 1.

GraftTherme, Am Stadtbad (Next to the big parking lot Graftwiesen, +49 4221 12760. Mo-Fr, 10am-9pm; Sa-So, 8am-7pm. The GraftTherme is a public swimming pool with lots of things to do. You have a general swimming area inside and outside, a big slide, an adventorous area, a restaurant and more. Inside area: (TODO: Update prices for GraftTherme!). Parking is free.

Jute Bowl, Weberstraße (Behind the central station, +49 4221 123696. Jute Bowl is a bowling center located right in the middle of the town. They offer different kinds of events. Have a beer here or play some pool.

Segelfliegen, Große Höhe, +49 4222 2710. March–October, every weekend 9am-6pm. If you want to do some gliding, here might be the right place. Since north Germany is very flat it is easy to fly without obstacles. They offer weekend courses for beginners. The Grosse Höhe is located east of Delmenhorst. Look here (, German) for a map. €50 for a beginners weekend.

Museumsbahn, +49 4244 9355-0. Only some days between May and October. The museum train "Jan Harpstedt" is located in the town Harpstedt. Take a tour in the old, steam-powered train over a station south in Delmenhorst (at the Grüne Straße) to the town Lemwerder. You can buy food and they take your bicycle on board. Adult: from €7, bike extra (buy in the train).

• Lange Straße, Downtown. This is the main shopping street in Delmenhorst. Here you can find stores for clothes, restaurants and more. Also make sure you take a look into the Einhorn Apotheke (Einhorn Pharmacy). This pharmacy is over 100 years in the possession of one family. They have a chronology with pictures in the pharmacy. This is a pedestrian-only street.

Lange Straße, Downtown. This is the main shopping street in Delmenhorst. Here you can find stores for clothes, restaurants and more. Also make sure you take a look into the Einhorn Apotheke (Einhorn Pharmacy). This pharmacy is over 100 years in the possession of one family. They have a chronology with pictures in the pharmacy. This is a pedestrian-only street.

You can find a variety of different food styles in the city. Greek, Italian, Turkish, Asian, Mexican and of course German cuisine is served. Fast food chains are also present. Additionally, you can find many typical Turkish snack bars which serve Döner Kebap. Some of them are located in the Lange Straße.

• Restaurant Athen, Brauenkamper Str. 88, +49 4221 83875. This restaurant is located in the district Deichhorst. It serves well-tasting Greek food as well as some common plates.
• Ristorante da Mimmo, Lange Str. 101, +49 4221 16647. Serves good Italian food. It is a little more pricey here.
• Zur alten Schmiede, Lange Str. 50, +49 4221 13876. In this place you can find typical German food. Bring your dictionary as the menu is only in German.

Restaurant Athen, Brauenkamper Str. 88, +49 4221 83875. This restaurant is located in the district Deichhorst. It serves well-tasting Greek food as well as some common plates.

Ristorante da Mimmo, Lange Str. 101, +49 4221 16647. Serves good Italian food. It is a little more pricey here.

Zur alten Schmiede, Lange Str. 50, +49 4221 13876. In this place you can find typical German food. Bring your dictionary as the menu is only in German.

In Delmenhorst, there are many little bars scattered all over the place. There you can drink some German beers.

• Slattery's, Stedinger Str. 40, +49 4221 17420. Every day from 5pm. Slattery's is an Irish pub. Dance, drink, have a good time there. Mostly filled at the weekends.
• White Lion, Schulstr. 25, +49 4221 120447. Su. - Th. 7pm - 2am, Fr. & Sa. 8pm - 5am. The White Lion is a rock bar. It is not as big as the Slattery's but definitely worth trying it out! If you are female and kind try to catch a drink from the owner for free!

Slattery's, Stedinger Str. 40, +49 4221 17420. Every day from 5pm. Slattery's is an Irish pub. Dance, drink, have a good time there. Mostly filled at the weekends.

White Lion, Schulstr. 25, +49 4221 120447. Su. - Th. 7pm - 2am, Fr. & Sa. 8pm - 5am. The White Lion is a rock bar. It is not as big as the Slattery's but definitely worth trying it out! If you are female and kind try to catch a drink from the owner for free!

In the city's main shopping street, Lange Straße, you can find some cafes with wireless. Also internet cafes are available.

Use caution at night at the central station. Avoid talking to the groups there. Use your normal precautions generally, and you will be safe. You can talk to any police officer in the city. Normally they are wearing black-blue uniforms; however, there still might be some wearing the old green-white ones.

• Bremen – Home of the worldwide known Beck's beer and of the soccer team Werder Bremen. The beautiful, quiet city has an interesting history, a lot of nature and more. City is its own state.
• Hamburg – The city with the biggest harbour in Germany. Great nightlife and a lot of things to see. Also own state.
• Hanover – The state capital of Lower Saxony surprises with much things to do and to see.
• Oldenburg – A smaller city to the west. Oldenburg has a nice downtown part.

There is a special ticket for public transportation in Lower Saxony, called Niedersachsen Ticket. Please read here for more information.