Emden

Emden is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany, on the River Ems near the North Sea. It is the economic and cultural center of East Frisia and has one of the largest ports in the region, serving sea and river traffic.

The town dates to the Middle Ages, grew as a Hanseatic trading city; its harbor has long connected East Frisia to international trade. In 1914 the German light cruiser SMS Emden raided shipping in the Indian Ocean before being sunk; the ship's name is linked in local memory. The city suffered destruction during World War II and was rebuilt after the war.

The Volkswagen Group Emden plant, established in the 1960s, is one of the city’s major employers, producing several VW models. The port handles cargo, ro-ro traffic, and passenger ferries. Regular ferry services connect Emden with Eemshaven in the Netherlands and with East Frisian islands such as Borkum. The city is served by the A31 motorway and Emden main railway station.

Emden hosts the Kunsthalle Emden, a museum of modern and contemporary art, and the Ostfriesisches Landesmuseum, presenting regional history. The historic town center includes the Bürgermeister-Smidt-Gedächtniskirche and preserved gables and timber-framed houses. The waterfront and Delft harbor area reflect its maritime identity.