During your time off throughout your VCT contract, you will be able to explore your home city and its surrounding areas. We’ve compiled information and links to resources about Papenburg and Wismar and their surrounding areas below.
Before traveling, please be sure to check the most current travel guidelines to ensure you are following all local requirements and are able to return safely.
Germany
Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second-most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated between the Baltic and North seas to the north, and the Alps to the south; covering an area of 357,022 square kilometers, with a population of over 83 million within its 16 constituent states. The nation’s capital and largest city is Berlin, and its financial center is Frankfurt; the largest urban area is the Ruhr.
Papenburg
Papenburg, home of the Meyer Werft shipyard, is located in Lower Saxony, Germany. Visitors can stroll along Papenburg’s picturesque canals, lined with historic ships, and explore the charming city center. With a variety of parks, gardens, and cultural landmarks, Papenburg provides a relaxing yet vibrant atmosphere for leisurely exploration.
Wismar
Wismar is a coastal city on the Baltic Sea, located at the southern end of the Bay of Wismar. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Wismar’s old town features Gothic brick churches, cobblestone streets, and vibrant market squares offering holiday markets in late November and December. The harbor and the old town of this maritime Hanseatic city have been preserved in a remarkably original way, conveying the typical image of a medieval maritime trading town in its heyday. The surrounding city offers a variety of sights, museums and exhibitions, such as phanTECHNIKUM, a museum featuring interactive exhibits on the history of technology and inventions. The city’s proximity to the sea makes the harbor a perfect spot for enjoying fresh seafood or visiting one of the nearby beaches, such as Strand Wendorf. With its blend of history and coastal charm, Wismar is an idyllic destination for both relaxation and exploration. From April to October, the island of Poel can be visited by ships departing directly from the Old Harbor. The Hanseatic cities of Lübeck and Rostock and Schwerin are also nearby and can be reached with a 40 to 60 minute drive.
For more active recreation, options include an 18-hole golf course with driving range in Hohen Wieschendorf; a nearby water park with thermal baths, spa and sauna; bicycle rentals from companies like MOBIL Fahrräder, and several gyms throughout the city.
Hamburg
Hamburg, a bustling port city approximately 1.5 hours from Wismar, offers a vibrant mix of culture, history, and entertainment. The iconic Landungsbrücken and Speicherstadt districts showcase the city’s maritime heritage, while the Alster Lake, Michel Church, and the famous Reeperbahn add to its unique character. Visitors can also explore highlights of Hamburg’s rich cultural scene, such as the Elbphilharmonie concert hall, the renowned Miniatur Wunderland exhibition, and the Kunsthalle, which houses impressive collections of art.
For a deeper dive into Hamburg’s distinctive neighborhoods, Schanzenviertel and St. Pauli are great spots to experience the city’s creative energy, offering everything from street art to quirky cafes and nightlife and a weekly Fish Market with a variety of shopping every Sunday morning. With its mix of historical landmarks and modern attractions, Hamburg provides a captivating experience for travelers.
Oldenburg
Oldenburg is an independent city in the district of Oldenburg in the state of Lower Saxony, Germany. The city is officially named Oldenburg to distinguish from Oldenburg in Holstein and is located one hour from Papenburg. Unique urban moments can be experienced in Oldenburg, which boasts a large pedestrian area, a diverse theatre scene, Lower Saxony’s most important inland port as well as gardens and farms adorned with flowers within the city. Next to this is a historic palace and a church, which impresses visitors with its Gothic architecture on the exterior and a beautiful classic rotunda on the interior. Oldenburg’s identity can be further discovered through the following link:
https://www.niedersachsen-tourism.com/destinations/cities-in-lower-saxony/isneyn
Bremerhaven
Bremerhaven is a city at the seaport of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen, a state of the Federal Republic of Germany and located one and a half hours from Papenburg. Though a relatively new city, it has a long history as a trade port and today is one of the most important German ports, playing a role in Germany’s trade. The Seaside City is opening up a new chapter in its history with the “Havenwelten Bremerhaven, a maritime tourism center with unique attractions. Next to this, aspects worth mentioning are the successful German Emigration Center, the Zoo at the Sea, the German Maritime Museum, the submarine “Wilhelm Bauer” and the Historical Museum Bremerhaven. Bremerhaven itself has much more to offer, which can be discovered through the following link:
https://www.bremerhaven.de/en/
Bremen
Bremen is the capital of the German state Free Hanseatic City of Bremen, a two-city-state consisting of the cities of Bremen and Bremerhaven and is located one and a half hours from Papenburg. With about 570,000 inhabitants, the Hanseatic city is the 11th largest city in Germany and the second largest city in Northern Germany after Hamburg. A commercial and industrial city, Bremen is, together with Oldenburg and Bremerhaven, part of the Bremen/Oldenburg Metropolitan Region. Bremen’s port, together with the port of Bremerhaven at the mouth of the Weser, is the second largest port in Germany after the Port of Hamburg. Bremen is a major cultural and economic hub of Northern Germany. The city is home to dozens of historical galleries and museums, ranging from historical sculptures to major art museums. Bremen City Hall and the Bremen Roland are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, yet the city features much more interesting things to do, which can be discovered through the following link:
https://www.bremen.eu/tourism/this-is-bremen
The Netherlands
The Netherlands is a country located in Western Europe with territories in the Caribbean. The Netherlands consists of twelve provinces, bordering Germany to the east, Belgium to the south, and the North Sea to the northwest, with maritime borders in the North Sea with those countries and the United Kingdom. The country’s official language is Dutch, with West Frisian as a secondary official language in the province of Friesland, and English and Papiamento as secondary official languages in the Caribbean Netherlands. The four largest cities in the Netherlands are Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, and Utrecht. Amsterdam is the country’s most populous city and nominal capital, while The Hague holds the seat of the States General, Cabinet and Supreme Court. The Port of Rotterdam is the busiest seaport in Europe. While Papenburg is located very close towards the Dutch border, it is an easy and fun option to spend some time within the Netherlands.
Winschoten
Winschoten is a city with a population of 18,518 in the municipality of Oldambt in the northeast of the Netherlands and is located 30 minutes from Papenburg. There are three windmills and several churches in Winschoten. There is a railway station with direct connections to Groningen and Leer (Germany). Winschoten has an important role as a shopping center for the region of Oldambt. In the province of Groningen, it is the second-largest shopping destination and it attracts many consumers from Germany. Winschoten could be considered the smaller-scale version of Groningen, a larger-scale city a bit further down the road. Winschoten will be able to offer you facilities such as a cozy yet extensive city center, supermarkets such as Albert Heijn, Lidl, Jumbo, Aldi, convenient stores such as Hema and Kruidvat, a Farmers’ market, a train station, etc. For any suggestions or questions, feel free to ask or contact any of your co-workers, who’d be happy to help you with any questions or suggestions for Winschoten.
Groningen
Groningen is the capital city and main municipality of Groningen province in the Netherlands and is located one hour from Papenburg. It is the largest city in the north of the Netherlands. Groningen is a university city, and students comprise an estimated 25% of its total population. Groningen was established more than 950 years ago. Groningen is nationally known as the “Metropolis of the North”. The city is seen as the main urban center of the Northern part of the country, particularly in the fields of education, business, music and other arts, including sights and facilities such as a large and extensive city center, various grocery stores and many other stores/shops, “Martinitoren”, “Groninger Museum”, “Maritime Museum”, “Comics Museum”, Theatre and Music hotspots, a Farmers’ market, Nightlife, Sports, a Train station, an Airport, etc. For any suggestions or questions, feel free to ask or contact any of your co-workers, who’d be happy to help you with any questions or suggestions for Groningen. Other potential interesting aspects of Groningen can be discovered through the following link:
https://www.holland.com/global/tourism/destinations/more-destinations/isneyn.htm
Emmen
Emmen is a municipality and town of the province of Drenthe in the northeastern Netherlands and is located one hour from Papenburg. Emmen arose from several small farming and peat-harvesting communities which have dotted the province of Drenthe since the Middle Ages. Emmen is the most populous urban area of Drenthe. The municipality of Emmen is one of the largest in the Netherlands, although the area outside the town borders of Emmen is rather rural. The other villages of importance are Emmer-Compascuum, Klazienaveen, Nieuw-Amsterdam and Schoonebeek. Emmen itself is able to offer you various facilities such as a large and extensive city center, various grocery stores and many other stores/shops, Wildlands Adventure Zoo Emmen, Sports, a Train station, etc. More detailed information about Wildlands Adventure Zoo Emmen can be found through the following link:
For any suggestions or questions, feel free to ask or contact any of your co-workers, who’d be happy to help you with any questions or suggestions about these locations.