East Frisia

East Frisia (German: Ostfriesland) is a region of Lower Saxony in Germany.

Fishing port of Neuharlingersiel

Cities

• 1 Aurich
• 2 Emden
• 3 Esens — a regional transportation hub with buses departing for the ferryports of several East Frisian islands
• 4 Leer
• 5 Norden Norddeich — ferry to Norderney and Juist
• 6 Varel
• 7 Wilhelmshaven — named for the Prussian ruler, this city used to be Germany's most important military harbour
• 8 Wittmund

Other destinations

• 1 East Frisian Islands
• 2 Lower Saxon Wadden Sea National Park — the large national park area stretches along the North Sea coast of East Frisia and Elbe-Weser Triangle between Ems and Elbe river estuaries.

Understand

East Frisia has a very large per-capita average consumption of tea: 300L/person/year, according to the New York Times. East Frisia is part of the historical homeland of the Frisians, which continues West into the Netherlands and North into Schleswig Holstein, where it is called North Frisia. While Frisian culture - especially their consumption of tea which is traditionally sweetened with rock sugar - is still alive and well in parts of East Frisia, it and especially the Frisian language has come under threat of assimilation since the late 19th century. East Frisia is largely a rural area and apart from the coastal destinations there is little of interest to most visitors, however the beaches and islands do draw millions of tourists (mostly Germans) every summer. East Frisia is also notable within Germany for Ostfriesenwitze ethnic jokes about East Frisians who are supposedly dimwitted and hillbilly-like.

Get in

By train

There is direct Intercity service from Central and even Southern Germany to Norddeich Mole during the summer with connections to the boats to the Juist and Norderney. Emden is also a stop for direct Intercity trains. The other ports and major cities are not as well connected and sometimes a short stretch by bus (integrated with the railway ticket) may be needed to get you to the boat.

By plane

Some of the East Frisian islands as well as some of the cities in the region have small airfields with domestic flights as well as general aviation. Unless you are in Germany already, they will be of little use to you and you might instead fly into Bremen or Hamburg and take the train from there.

By bus

See also: Intercity buses in Germany

Flixbus serves a few points in this region

Get around

By boat

Most of the East Frisian islands are only reachable by "their" port by regularly scheduled public boats. As the waters are rather shallow, they can only leave at high tide, so check in advance when the boats leave to avoid sitting at the harbor for hours.

See

• East Frisian Tea Museum Norden Norddeich provides seminars and tastings in addition to exhibits.

Drink

Tea in the East Frisian style. The cream forms little cloud shapes (Sahnewolke) if it is not stirred.

While coffee dominates the surrounding regions, East Frisia's strong tea culture is considered part of Germany's intangible cultural heritage. The German Records Institute says the region has the highest tea consumption rate in the world, and many residents drink tea multiple times per day. Hot black tea here is drunk rather ceremonially, with rock candy sugar (kluntje) sitting in the bottom of the cup and with whipping cream poured on top. This is left unstirred, so the cup of tea starts out mild and creamy, becomes clear and flavorful, and finishes with a sweet taste.

There are annual tea festivals, and even a tea museum in Norden. If you have tea in someone's home, you can expect to be offered at least three cups of tea. When you've had enough, you can silently signal that you've had enough by putting your teaspoon in your teacup.

Go next

• Oldambt — the region just across the Dutch border, including 'windmill city' Winschoten