Leisure time in Vechta

Vechta is a small town in Lower Saxony. It is located between Osnabrück, Bremen and Oldenburg, in the middle of the idyllic moorland.

Vechta has a small city centre where you can stroll around and do the most necessary shopping. You will also find many cafés and restaurants here. In the city centre, there are sometimes small festivals or fairs and open-for-business Sundays (most shops in Germany are usually closed on Sundays).

Vechta’s most famous “mascot” is on the Europaplatz in front of the Sparkasse: the horse Warwick Rex. It is the horse of the show jumper Alwin Schockemöhle, who lives in Mühlen in the district of Vechta and won gold for Germany at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal (Canada). Vechta is very well known for horse breeding, so there are regular auctions of Oldenburg horses.

The Zitadellenpark is ideal for picnics, walking and relaxing on sunny days. There is also the Museum im Zeughaus, which provides a lot of information and offers join-in activities on the history of Vechta. The Castrum Vechtense, which is located on a small island in the lake of the Zitadellenpark, is part of the museum and can be visited. In the middle of September, the Burgmannen-Tage (a medieval market) take place in the Zitadellenpark. On the museum's website, you will find information, exhibitions and events.

Near the Zitadellenpark is the Hochzeitswald, where you can take a nice walk and enjoy nature.

You can also learn more about the history of Vechta by taking part in guided tours (in German only) such as “Mit dem Nachtwächter durch Vechta” (Exploring Vechta with the night watchman) or “Heilwig Bestmann – Hexe von Norddöllen” (Heilwig Bestmann - Witch of Norddöllen). You will find the guided tours programme on the website of the Nordkreis Vechta. 

On rainy days, you can see a film in Vechta’s cinema Schauburg Cineworld. The cinema is relatively small, but it offers many current films. You can find the current cinema programme here. The films are usually in German, which is a great way to practice your German language skills. However, if you want to see films in another language, you have to go to other cinemas, e.g., in Bremen or Osnabrück. Films in original version with (German) subtitles can be recognised by the designation “OmU” after the title. 

Next to the cinema is the Metropol, a theatre. Performances take place there regularly. The programme and ticket sales can be found here. The programme is very diverse and there are also performances for children, but only in German.

The Stoppelmarkt is the biggest event in Vechta. It takes place every year in the middle of August. The Stoppelmarkt is a big fair (Volksfest) for young and old. Six days of celebrating and enjoying life! Detailed information, the programme of the respective year, the history of the Stoppelmarkt and the countdown to the next one can be found on the website of the Stoppelmarkt.  

The Hallenwellenbad und Freibad (indoor wave pool and outdoor pool) in Vechta is a small swimming pool located in the northern part of the town. In the indoor area, waves are artificially generated on a regular basis. In the outdoor area, there are a slide, a volleyball court and a large sunbathing area. The swimming pool also has a bistro, where you can have drinks and food after swimming and splashing around.

The Toncoole is a natural swimming pool that is only open in summer. You can enjoy a drink after work in a relaxed atmosphere in the adjoining beer garden.

Opening hours and prices for the Hallenwellenbad and the Toncoole can be found here.

In the Easy Strike Bowlingcenter, you can bowl or play billiards with friends or family. Prices and opening hours can be found here.

Vechta also offers a wide range of sports in clubs. The golf course is near the university. There are also many horse studs in Vechta and the surrounding area, where you can take horse-riding lessons.

Further information about activities in Vechta can also be found here.

Vechta’s surroundings also offer many opportunities for your leisure activities. The surroundings of Vechta are characterised by agriculture, which is why you can take nice bicycle tours and walks through the fields. You can find great bicycle tours and hiking trails on the website of the Oldenburger Münsterland.

The Dammer Berge are a multifaceted destination for a bicycle tour or a day trip by car. There are mountains, moorland and lakes. The Dümmer See is the second largest lake in Lower Saxony. You can relax on the beach, go swimming or rent a boat or a stand-up board and cruise around the lake. Information on the Dammer Berge and the Dümmer can also be found here.

The Goldenstedter Moor is only 7 km away from Vechta and can be easily reached by bicycle through beautiful field paths. The Haus im Moor, a nature conservation and information centre, is a perfect destination. You can explore the 900-m moorland nature trail, learn about the moor and take a ride on the Moorbahn (moorland train). Information about the Goldenstedter Moor can be found here.

The Hartensbergsee in Goldenstedt also offers a beautiful beach and barbecue areas. You can also go fishing (fishing licence required), use the outdoor tennis court, go to performances on the open-air stage and explore nature on beautiful hiking trails.

The Heidesee in Holdorf is surrounded by forest. You can rent roofed wicker beach chairs (Strandkorb) here for a fee. There is an adventure playground for children.

The nearest major cities near Vechta are Bremen, Osnabrück and Oldenburg. You can easily reach all three by train. More detailed information about travelling by train in Germany can also be found on the page Getting around in Vechta. 

Bremen is especially famous for the Bremer Stadtmusikanten (Bremen Town Musicians) with the four fairy-tale animals. They are located next to the 600-year-old town hall in the middle of the city centre. Nearby, you can visit the Schnoor quarter with small old houses and pretty shops. It is the oldest quarter of Bremen. The Schlachte is a part of the Weser promenade with many restaurants and beer gardens in a relaxed atmosphere. There is a special Christmas market during the Christmas season. Besides these sightseeing spots, Bremen offers many shopping, leisure and cultural opportunities. You can find out more on the city's website.

Osnabrück is located in the middle of the Osnabrück Land and is therefore surrounded by nature. The city has an enchanting old town and offers many shopping opportunities in the city centre. On the website of the Osnabrücker Land, you will find many tips for leisure activities and sights in Osnabrück. 

Oldenburg has a particularly beautiful, large pedestrian zone for strolling. You can visit the Schloss Oldenburg (Oldenburg Castle) and enjoy the great view of the Lambertikirche (St. Lambert’s Church) from the castle garden. Oldenburg, however, has much more to offer than just a castle. 100 things you can do in Oldenburg can be found here.