Bad Zwischenahn

Bad Zwischenahn

Coat of arms
Bad Zwischenahn

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)
Population (2013-12-31)[1]
 • Total 27,866
 • Density 210/km2 (560/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 Jagdgeschwader 400 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.

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:

Original (Low German) German translation English translation
Ik seh Di! Ich sehe Dich! I see you!
Dat freit mi! Das freut mich! That makes me glad!
Ik sup Di to! Ich trinke Dir zu! I drink to you!
Dat do! Tu das! Do that!
Prost! Prost! Cheers!
Ik heb Di tosopen! Ich habe Dir zugetrunken! I've drunk to you!
Hest den Rechten dropen! Du hast den Richtigen getroffen! You met the right one!
So hebt wi dat immer doh'n! So haben wir das immer getan! That's how we always did!
So schall dat ok wieter goh'n! So soll das auch weiter gehen! That's how it shall go on!

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

References

  1. ↑ Landesbetrieb für Statistik und Kommunikationstechnologie Niedersachsen, 102 Bevölkerung - Basis Zensus 2011, Stand 31. Dezember 2013 (Tabelle K1020014)
  2. ↑ Museum society's website (in German)
  3. ↑ Ferienunterkünfte am Zwischenahner Meer (in German)

External links


This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Sunday, June 21, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.