Nordenham is a town with a serious water presence. If you don’t like water all over the place, then you are going to be a bit put out that Nordenham manages to combine ocean, river, and marshland. The resulting topography is a mix of highs and lows, as the town blends with the water and also fights against it.
It’s a bit unassuming as a vacation spot, and doesn’t do much to pander to tourists. Visitors see the authentic town, without half-timber makeovers everywhere. There are some old stone structures in the suburbs, but Nordenham didn’t really boom until the 1800’s, when shipping and trade with Englands went into high gear.
The 1800’s also marked the end of serious conquest by the Dutch and French in turn. In some of the older houses and churches like St. Lawrence the alternating cultural influences are on display. Mill culture also flourished here, so you can tour old windmills unflatteringly named the “bog mills” to see the wind processing still in action.
Wind and water also give Nordenham a vibrant shipping and industrial culture. Sailing, ship watching, and trade events are all available to entertain the nautically minded. The many different kinds of ship’s people moving in and out also bring a touch of the exotic to regular life in the town.
This touch of the exotic and the ships brought Roy Horn, one half of the popular magic duo Siegfried & Roy, in touch with not only his future performing partner but also the wild animals he worked with in his act. Born and raised in Nordenham, the town provided him with a place to hone his skills.
Locals are very proud of their native son, and the performing arts have flourished as a result so you can see a lot of developing acts cheaply when you are here.
