Hanekenfähr

Hanekenfähr is a recreation area where the Ems River, Dortmund-Ems Canal, and Ems-Vechte Canal meet, creating a junction of waterways in the Emsland region. The site includes mooring spaces for boats, cycling and walking paths, and a waterfront café.

In the 19th century, Hanekenfähr operated as a ferry crossing point on the Ems River, serving as an important passage for people and goods. Later, the development of the canal system transformed it into a key hub of the region's water transport network.

The site serves as a gathering place for local residents who engage in water-based recreation and outdoor pursuits throughout the year. This connection to the waterways forms part of how the community understands itself and its relationship with the landscape.

The area is easily accessible with marked paths for walkers and cyclists that wind around the water junction points. Visiting on warm, dry days makes the most of the outdoor activities and waterside views available here.

Where the Ems River meets the Dortmund-Ems Canal, a small waterfall forms, a natural sight that many visitors overlook entirely. This spot is called the Emswehr and remains part of a working lock system that has operated through the ages.