Bad Zwischenahn

Bad Zwischenahn
Coat of arms
Bad Zwischenahn Location of Bad Zwischenahn within Ammerland district
Coordinates: 53°11′01″N 08°00′35″E / 53.18361°N 8.00972°E / 53.18361; 8.00972Coordinates: 53°11′01″N 08°00′35″E / 53.18361°N 8.00972°E / 53.18361; 8.00972
Country	Germany
State	Lower Saxony
District	Ammerland
Government
• Mayor	Dr. Arno Schilling (SPD)
Area
• Total	130 km2 (50 sq mi)
Elevation	7 m (23 ft)
Population (2017-12-31)[1]
• Total	28,507
• Density	220/km2 (570/sq mi)
Time zone	CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes	26160
Dialling codes	04403
Vehicle registration	WST
Website	www.bad-zwischenahn.de

Bad Zwischenahn (Low German: Twüschenahn) is a town and a municipality in the low-lying Ammerland district, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated on the lake Zwischenahner Meer, approx. 15 km northwest of Oldenburg, and about 70 km south of the North Sea coast.

History

During World War II it was the home base of the largest Luftwaffe airbase in northern Germany, with first the Erprobungskommando 16 service-test unit, then Jagdgeschwader 400 each in their turn operating the Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet rocket fighter from the base, which was heavily bombed. Following the War, the airbase was converted to a golf course.

Economy

Windmill in Kayhausen, the Rügenwalder Mühle

The main economic activities of Bad Zwischenahn were and are based on tree nurseries, the food industry (sausage and ham production), and resort community services for the well to do urban population of Oldenburg and Bremen. The lake is used for boating, bathing and recreation, with some eel fishing still undertaken.

One of the premier sites for tourists is a windmill originally built in 1811 in Westerstede. It is part of a historical museum farm consisting of 14 houses and auxiliary buildings that were moved to their today's location from 1909 to 2004.^[2] One of the buildings is called the Spieker and shelters a restaurant of the same name, integrating into the centuries-old architecture.

A major source of money is the tourism industry. There is Bad Zwischenahn above average number of apartments from private providers. These homes often have a higher standard and are awarded with 3 stars or more.^[3] The spa facilities are the reason why older people often come to Zwischenahn.

Transportation

Bad Zwischenahn railway station has services to Leer and Oldenburg.

The Zwischenahner Meer has regular ferry routes from Zwischenahn to Dreibergen and Rostrup.

Local traditions

Locally smoked eels are a delicacy, particularly when served with a locally produced schnapps called Ammerländer Löffeltrunk. There is a specific local tradition (also called Ammerländer Löffeltrunk) to drink it from a tin spoon along with a special drinking cheer, each line alternately spoken by the host and the guests:

Beside drinking, the Ammerländer Löffeltrunk is also used to clean one's hands after eating the smoked eel.

Personalities

Connected to Bad Zwischenahn

Sophie Charlotte von Oldenburg in 1913

• Gerhard VI, Count of Oldenburg (1430-1500), sea and street robber, regent of Bad Zwischenahn
• Richard Friese (1854-1918), major German animal painter and sculptor, died in Bad Zwischenahn
• Johann Friedrich Höger, named Fritz Höger (1877-1949), architect, built the water tower in Bad Zwischenahn in 1928
• Sophie Charlotte von Oldenburg (1879-1964), lived from 1951 until her death in a small house in Bad Zwischenahn.
• Horst Eckert (born 1931), known as Janosch, author and painter, lived from 1946 to 1952 and then again from 1953 to 1958 in Bad Zwischenahn
• Udo Pastörs (born 1952), politician of the NPD has grown up here.

References

External links

• Media related to Bad Zwischenahn at Wikimedia Commons