This small north-west German town has preserved its historic character with half-timbered houses and winding streets. Local breweries and museums tell stories of regional culture.
Leer, a riverside town of 35,000 people in East Frisia, northwestern Germany, manages one-fifth of Germany's merchant fleet from its harbor. Walking through the town center, you'll pass 17th-century merchant houses with their distinctive stepped gables, and the red-brick town hall built in 1894. You can learn to prepare East Frisian tea at the Tea Museum, take a guided tour of the Vintage Steamship Prince Henry, or join 500,000 other visitors at the autumn Gallimarkt festival with its 250 market stalls and carnival rides.
Getting to Leer
You can reach Leer by train from Bremen, Groningen, or the Ruhr region. The A28 and A31 highways connect the town to major German cities, while the small Leer-Papenburg airfield provides flights to the East Frisian Islands.
Maritime Town Center
Ships and boats move in and out of the harbor throughout the day, with the 1894 red-brick town hall standing at the water's edge. You can tour the Vintage Steamship Prince Henry in the canal, where guides explain the vessel's role in maritime trade. The pedestrian zone near the harbor has shops in restored merchant buildings, many dating from the 1600s and 1700s.
Tea Culture and Museums
At the Buenting Tea Museum (€2.50) on Brunnenstraße, you can learn about three centuries of East Frisian tea trading. The museum displays historical tea packaging and merchants' equipment, and staff demonstrate the East Frisian tea ceremony, teaching visitors how to layer rock sugar and cream in their cups. At Leeraner Miniaturland (€10), you can walk through 1,200 square meters of detailed miniature East Frisian buildings and landscapes.
Annual Gallimarkt Festival
The Gallimarkt transforms Leer's center each autumn into one of Northwest Germany's largest fairs. Since 1508, when farmers gathered here to trade cattle, the event has grown to include 19 large rides and 250 market stalls. Today, about half a million visitors come to try local foods, shop at craft stalls, and enjoy the carnival rides.
Exploring the Surroundings
Three castles lie within easy reach of Leer: Harderwykenburg, Haneburg, and Evenburg. At the 17th-century Schloss Evenburg, you can walk through the baroque gardens and around the moat. A 30-kilometer cycling route connects all three castles, with numbered signs guiding you through fields and villages. From Leer's harbor, boats depart regularly to Helgoland and the East Frisian Islands.
