Wasserturm Varel, Water tower in Varel, Germany

Wasserturm Varel is a 50.5-metre octagonal brick tower at Oldenburger Straße 62, set about 50 metres back from the road. Its base is ringed by blind arcades, two long window strips pierce each of the eight upper faces, and the curved octagonal roof is copper-clad. An attached dwelling with a half-hipped roof shares the site.

Construction began in 1913 when Varel switched from individual wells to a centralized water supply system. This project was part of the modernization that many coastal towns underwent during this period.

The tower is a recognizable landmark of Varel with its red brick walls and copper roof that shape the town's identity. Many residents connect it to the moment when the town developed into a modern community with centralized services.

The interior is accessible to visitors and provides access to an observation platform at height from which you can survey the surroundings. It is advisable to wear comfortable shoes and check the local opening times, as they vary by season.

The tower's tank still feeds a network of 62 kilometres of mains and about 3,630 household connections, and since 1956 the EWE AG has run the technical and commercial operation for the town. A low-level reservoir added in Hafenstraße in 1968 and a clean-water chamber of 2 × 750 m³ built in 1982 support peak demand.