Thülsfeld Reservoir (Thülsfelder Talsperre)

A reservoir in the lowlands sounds like concrete banks, but the Thülsfeld Reservoir in the Oldenburger Münsterland looks more like a Swedish archipelago: branching bays, sandy beaches, pine woods, bog and one of the largest heathlands in Lower Saxony. It was built between 1924 and 1927 between Cloppenburg and Friesoythe and is the only reservoir in the Lower Saxony lowlands and, after the Brohm reservoir, the northernmost in Germany. Because there are no boats, it is surprisingly peaceful.

History: flood protection with a bonus

During heavy rain or snowmelt the River Soeste could not carry away its water and regularly flooded the area around Friesoythe. In 1923 the Oldenburg parliament decided to build a dam at a natural narrowing of the sandy upland near Thülsfeld. It is 9 m high; its length is given as anything from 3.1 to 5 km depending on the source. The reservoir holds up to 10.8 million cubic metres but is only about 5 m deep when full, with extensive shallow zones. The area became a nature reserve soon after construction (1937/38) and has been part of the European Natura 2000 network since 2000. The structure was renovated from 2002 to 2006.

What to see

• The heath on the west bank: More than 68 hectares of heathland, grazed all year by around 220 sheep and 70 goats. In late summer the heather blooms.
• The nature trail: A 10 km circular trail with 14 interactive stations leads through bog and heath, over dunes and past bays; at one station you can watch a shifting dune.
• The beaches: Two sandy beaches are lifeguarded by the DLRG, plus a bathing spot in the north. Swimming is allowed only at these designated places.
• The Peace Knights: On the foundations of a Second World War anti-aircraft position stands, since 1980, a brick sculpture by the Polish artist Antoni Hajdecky bearing the word "peace" in many languages.
• Waterbirds: In winter many waterbirds rest on the lake; a new bird-watching station is currently being built.

Getting there and parking (as of October 2026)

The lake is freely accessible and there is no admission charge. Walkers have two starting points: the north hikers' car park on Thülsfelder Straße in Friesoythe-Thülsfeld and the south hikers' car park on Drei-Brücken-Weg in Garrel-Petersfeld, plus a coach park. By bus, use the "Garrel-Petersfeld, B72/Abzweig Talsperre" stop (lines 900 and S90) or the on-demand stop at the youth hostel. Around the lake there are campsites, holiday homes, a youth hostel, a high-ropes course and a golf course.

Tripto tip

The nature trail takes about three hours; a beach afternoon takes as long as you like. It is loveliest in late summer, when the heather is in bloom, or in winter when the waterbirds are resting. Dogs are welcome but must be on a lead in the nature reserve, and you should stay on the paths. The trail is partly accessible. Watch out for construction vehicles while the bird station is being built.