Today we had the opportunity to experience the architecture and history of the beautiful port city of Emden. We arrived with dry jackets and the smiling sun on our backs for the first time during our stay here in Ostfriesland. We set off to explore the town and quickly found ourselves in an old church that survived the test of both time and war and has today been converted into a library. Much of the original brick and mortar still exists in the old structure to this day as well as a number of interesting sculptures and paintings.
Inside the Johannes A Lasco Library
After leaving the Johannes A Lasco Library we set off to probe the rest of Emden and soon after came to the harbor situated in the center of the town. The harbor was full of anchored boats and aimlessly moving people, including ourselves. We took a few pictures and then hurriedly looked for a café and warm hot chocolate to escape the cold morning air.
Finally we finished our day by visiting an old church that holds a Guinness World Record for the most tilted tower in the world. The church is located just outside of Emden in the small village of Suurhusen. The church tower leans at a record 5.19 degrees, edging out the popular Leaning Tower of Pisa by more than 1.2 degrees. The church was built in the Middle Ages on a foundation of oak trees and soon began leaning after the groundwater below was drained in the 19th century. According to local Ostfriesen the church is still frequented by eager churchgoers to this day.
The Leaning Tower of Suurhusen