Schüttorf is as far west in southern Lower Saxony as you can go without finding yourself in the Dutch speaking Netherlands. This is also where you’ll hear the Low German dialect spoken; and not just at a performance by the Low German Theater Group.
Sightseeing around Schüttorf is mainly limited to the Town Hall (made of Bentheim sandstone) and its Catholic Church neighbor next door. The Town Hall was badly damaged in April 1945 by aerial bombings, that also totally wiped out the town’s archives.
Don’t confuse the Catholic Church on the Marktplatz with the Schüttorf’s historic St. Lawrence Church that was built in 1209. It was converted to a Reformed church in 1544 and is the final resting place of several of Bentheimer Counts.
Long before the days of Counts (or any other aristocratic title) people have lived in this part of Germany. Remains that date back to 2000 B.C. were unearthed here and many Celtic crosses and other accoutrement have been found.
One thing’s for sure, it won’t matter if you speak Low German, High German, or any other language under the sun when you’re out walking, hiking, or cycling around the countryside.
Don’t worry if you’ve walked or ridden too far, hop on a local bus (with bike trailer on the back) to bring you back into town. Trust me, anyone over thirty knows exactly what I’m talking about on this. ;-)
With all that activity you’re gonna work up an appetite, so why not try some regional dishes? North Germany is known for hearty meals and delicious desserts like Butterkuchen (butter cake).
Also, there are many breweries in Lower Saxony, so try a local beer (following strict purity laws) to wash it all down.
So, no matter whether you speak High or Low German (or, No German) — I assume you’ll have a fine time in Schüttorf.
