Emsland – Ammerland – Groningen (3XL)
Experience the impressive Meyer Werft shipyard and Friesland on both sides of the border.
- 3 nights with breakfast at the Best Western Plus Hotel Papenburg
- 1 dinner at the hotel on the day of arrival
- Admission and guided tour of the Meyer Werft shipyard
- Full-day tour guide for an Ammerland round trip with Bad Zwischenahn
- Visit to the Bourtange fortress in the Netherlands
- City tour in Groningen
With sights on both sides of the border!
The home of the ocean liners! In the tranquil town of Papenburg on the River Ems, the Meyer Werft shipyard is home to the largest covered dry dock in Europe. Every year, some of the largest ocean liners, e. g. from AIDA or NCL, are launched here and ferried across the Ems to the North Sea. Papenburg is also the perfect base from which to explore the highlights of East and West Friesland. These include the charming town of Leer, the imposing Ems barrage in Gandersum and romantic Groningen in the Netherlands. A guided tour of the Ammerland region and a guided tour of the historic Dutch fortress town of Bourtange are also highly recommended.
On the route of your choice, you will reach Papenburg in Emsland. The town is characterized by its long tradition of shipbuilding and its connection to the sea. The romantic townscape is characterized by the numerous canals that run through the city. This also gives this romantic town its unique charm. You will be staying in the central Best Western Plus Hotel Papenburg, located directly on the main canal. A perfect starting point for an initial exploration of the old town.
The day begins with a visit to the Meyer Werft shipyard. The huge dry dock on the small river Ems is imposing – it is hard to imagine that numerous ocean liners have already been transferred to the North Sea via this dock. It is a great spectacle every time a new cruise ship is launched and makes its way through the tranquil landscape of East Frisia into the world’s oceans. You will experience at first hand how these impressive ships are built. In the afternoon, you will take a tour through the beautiful Ammerland region. Hardly any other region can boast so many beautiful parks and gardens. The day ends with a visit to Bad Zwischenahn, including a tour of the town.
Groningen is a hip and lively city – after all, it is home to the oldest university in the country and Groningen lives up to its name as a student city. But the city also has a long history as an important trading center. On a tour through the beautiful old town and across the large market square with the historic town hall and the Martinitoren, you will get to know the city’s eventful history. With Bourtange, situated close to the border with Germany, you will then see a perfectly restored fortified town dating back to 1742. In that year, the Bourtange fortress was built to its greatest strength and defensive capability and the town center is still maintained at this level today. The typical star-shaped architecture is what makes the town so unmistakable.
After breakfast at the hotel, the return journey is on the route of your choice. We are happy to help you with program points along the way – if time permits.