Things to see
In Sande...
Water sculpture in the Market Square
This stone sculpture, created by Udo Reimann in 1989, is of a boat surrounded - like Sande itself - by sand, dunes and mudflats. The column, from which water flows, represents the tides.
St. Magnus Church
Sande's main church was built in the 14th century on a “Wurt” – a man-made mound to protect it from flooding. And indeed it survived the heavy tides that destroyed many other churches in the area at the beginning of the 16th century. The church is dedicated to St Magnus, Bishop of Apulia, who was martyred in AD 250. Built before the Reformation, the church was of course originally Catholic. The first Lutheran preacher appears in the records in 1531. The bell tower was built in 1657, and like so many bell towers built on the soft ground of northwestern Germany, it has developed a distinct lean. The St Magnus Church has a fine interior and is open to visitors daily.
Sande Lake
The Sande Lake was created when sand was taken to build the A29 motorway linking Oldenburg and Wilhelmshaven in the late 1970s and early 1980s. 1.6 million cubic metres of sand were taken from Sande alone. The result is a 7 hectare park comprising lake which can be swum in, a playground and a nature reserve for birds.
Altmarienhausen
The ruler of the Jeverland, Maria of Jever, decided to build her summer residence in Altmarienhausen. A beautiful renaissance house was constructed between 1568 bis 1571. Maria’s descendants were not able to maintain the home and a large part was torn down in 1792, the rest following in 1822. All that is left is the tower which had been damaged by fire and was restored in 1736 – 42. Visitors can walk around the grounds, visit the Küsteum museum (see below) and the lovely little cafe which is open on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
Küsteum – Dyke & Foundry Museum
A converted barn contains an over 300m² large exhibition about dyke-building and coastal-protection, including many pictures and models explaining the history and development of the region's fragile coastline. The Küsteum is also home to a blacksmith who is happy to answer questions and explain his trade.
Sande Bunker
This Second World War bunker, built in 1943, is 18 m high and 17 m in diameter. After the war British forces tried to blow up the bunker, but only managed to tip it over and it is still standing at an angle of 18°. It was bought in 1983 by the German Alpine Society Wilhelmshaven who use it for climbing practice and have installed climbing routes from grades 2 to 10. The North German climbing championships have been held here since 1999. The bunker has been placed under listed building protection.In Neustadtgödens...
Historic Village
Neustadtgödens is beautiful and special. Four churches and a synagogue in such a small village? The history of Neustadtgödens explains. At the time of the Reformation the feudal Count of Gödens was particularly tolerant and Neustadtgödens has been a refuge for the persecuted since it was founded in 1544. Mennonites, Lutherans, Jews, Catholics and members of the Reformed Church lived side-by-side.
The linen trade helped Neustadtgödens to prosperity during the 17th and 18th centuries - at that time the coastline reached as far as the village and the old harbour can still be seen. Flags on the beautifully restored houses show who lived where - all the important trades and professions are to be found.
Landrichterhaus Museum
The residents of the district judge was built around 1600 and is now a museum. The judges of the day were appointed by the Count of Gödens to settle minor disputes. The old courtroom and judge's chambers have been preserved and can be viewed. But you can also find out much more about the history of Neustadtgödens if you pay a visit. More information on the museum's own homepage.
Oberahm Windmill
This Dutch-style mill with canvas sails and a fantail was built in 1764 and operated right up until 1966. The mill has three "gears" - one for separating in particular barley, and two for milling - and turns automatically to face the wind. Next to the mill there is a fine herb garden with over 80 varieties of herb for cooking and medicinal purposes.
Wedelfeld Watermill
It looks like a windmill, and yes, it is powered by the wind. But the purpose of this mill, built in 1844, was not to make flour but to lift water from the canal and irrigate the fields. The Wedelfelder Watermill is the only fully working irrigation-watermill left in Friesland and was in use up until 1962. It was taken over in 1980 by the Heimatverein Gödens-Sande who are responsible for its conservation.In Cäciliengroden...
The Lower Saxony Wattenmeer National Park
Wattenmeer is the German word for the mudflats which stretch along the Lower Saxony Coast. Thanks to their unique ecosystem, these mudflats and the grassy dunes which form an ever-changing coastline have been made into a national park. The Lower Saxony Wattenmeer National Park covers an area of 2800 square kilometres and is the second largest national park in Germany. Cäciliengroden is on the Jadebusen Bay, the largest within the national park.The grassy dunes at Cäciliengroden of particular interest. These dunes are about the usual high tide line but occasionally flooded by the sea, and plants growing there must be able to survive flooding with salt water. In the dunes alone there are 1600 forms of animal life, around half of which cannot be found anywhere else.
The dunes and mudflats are an important staging post for migratory birds. Their preservation is therefore important for ecosystems in other parts of the world.
Sculpture Path - Art on the Dyke
Seven stone sculptures by eight different artists spread out over seven nautical miles around the west side of the Jadebusen Bay tell the creation story according to Genesis Chapter 1. These sculptures were erected as part of the Expo 2000 Lutheran church in Cäciliengroden and the Oldenburg Dyke Society III.
The Koyer - Dyke Digger
This bronze sculpture was erected as a reminder of the works carried out between 1991 and 2001 to raise the Dyke protecting Cäciliengroden and the surrounding area from the sea. These works were expensive and controversial and local residents had to campaign to get them completed. The high point of the campaign was when 10,000 people holding burning torches formed a line along the dykes right around the Jadebusen Bay.
Buried Churches
The flood on St Anthony's day 1511 was so massive that the Dyke could not be repaired. Five villages - Oldebrügge, Bordum, Bant, Ahm and Seediek -were completely destroyed. Residents sought refuge in the church at Sande. Granite stones, which are supposed to have come from the abandoned church in Ahm, have been placed in front of the church in Cäciliengroden as a memorial.In Dykhausen and Gödens...
St James’ Church
St James’ Church in Dykhausen was more than just a church - it served as a fortress and garrison. Built around 1200, the church was destroyed during battles both in 1385 and in 1457 and then rebuilt. Hinrich Krechting, leader of the radical Münster Baptists is buried here. Krechting fled to Gödens to escape persecution and joined the Reformed Church. 
Pleasure boat harbour on the Ems-Jade Canal
The Ems-Jade Canal was built between 1880 and 1888 in cooperation with Prussia to link Emden with the Jadebusen Bay - and in particular the new naval base in Wilhelmshaven which had been founded in 1854. The canal served mainly to transport goods but also helped to drain surrounding moorland. A small harbour was built in Dykhausen which is still in use and popular with pleasure boats today.
Gödens Castle
This fine residence, built in 1517, is surrounded by two moats. The building has two wings and a staircase tower and was built in the style of the Dutch renaissance. The exterior walls were originally plastered. The castle is still home to the Count of Gödens and only very occasionally open to the public. But even from the outside the castle is impressive and the 12 hectares of park and garden can be visited.In Mariensiel...
Mariensiel Harbour
A “Siel“ is a sheltered harbour built behind sluice gates in a dyke. The one in Mariensiel was built in 1570 and completed the rebuilding of the dykes after the St Anthony's day flood of 1511. The Christmas flood in 1717 hit Mariensiel particularly hard, destroying the sluice gates which were rebuilt in 1722. AFTER another heavy flood in 1962 it was decided to seal off Mariensiel.
Mariensiel Airport
The Wilhelmshaven-Mariensiel Airport was opened in the summer of 1927. Lufthansa offered regular passenger flights and used the airport for airmail. The airstrip is still very much in use - there are around 25,000 takeoffs and landings every year. Modern technology allows for autopilot-assisted landings and night landings.