Named after the Holdorf clan who once occupied the area, Holdorf is a small town between Osnabrück and Vechta in Lower Saxony. It’s surrounded by several lakes where you can swim and relax in the warmer months and is on the doorstep of a lookout tower inspired by a German folktale.
Things to do in Holdorf
A short drive from Holdorf is the NSG Dammer Bergsee, a protected nature reserve with a large lake created as a clearing pond for an iron ore mine. It provides a habitat for more than 350 recorded plant species, including several rare orchids. You can stretch your legs along one of the reserve’s hiking trails while keeping your eyes peeled for badgers, hedgehogs and squirrels.
If you’re visiting in the summer months, you can cool off with a swim in the Heidesee, a picturesque lake on the western edge of Holdorf. Divers can venture below the water’s surface to discover its submerged wrecks while anglers can cast a fishing line to lure pike, carp and perch. On the edge of the lake is the Sport Böckmann Arena with its indoor soccer pitch.
For elevated views across the region, climb to the top of the Aussichtsturm Mordkuhlenberg, which rises to 20 metres in height. As you ascend its six floors, you can read about the legend of the “Robbers from Mordkuhlenberg”, who some believe still inhabit the Damme Mountains. Along the path leading to the tower are a series of large iron sculptures depicting the story’s characters.
Getting around Holdorf
Holdorf is around 30 minutes’ drive from Osnabrück and 45 minutes from Münster Osnabrück International Airport, which has seasonal flights to destinations across Europe. Buses connect to Holdorf, although renting a car will give you greater freedom to explore the area.