Vreden, Germany
- Mallery Zion
- Oct 22, 2017
- 5 min read
On the 27th of May 2015 I boarded my first ever flight(s).
Kansas City ✈ Chicago ✈ Düsseldorf
After an hour drive from Düsseldorf, I stepped foot into the charming German town called Vreden. 4,574 miles away from home.
Vreden coat of arms flag. Photo from "magFlags" on Amazon.
My family had the honor of hosting a girl from Vreden named Laura in 2013, and in 2015 her family graciously returned the favor.
Vreden is a smaller, countryside town, with a nice town center, and suburbs as well.
I think it truly deserves to be recognized more.
It is definitely a place to avoid tourist traps, and to experience more of the culture instead!
One thing that I first noticed and admired about the town is the architecture, of course.
Large amounts of cobblestone, brick, and modern, clean-cut designs are prevalent throughout.
The town center for shopping and dining is a scene worthy of postcards.
My first time walking around there was right after a rain shower - giving it a particularly comfortable and vibrant atmosphere.
Since the trip was the summer before my high school senior year, and it was an exchange arranged by teachers, I was able to experience a couple days of German high school. Besides my graduated friend that I was staying with, I was able to also be paired with a girl my own age to attend the classes with.
It was quite interesting. I mostly remember a math class where the curriculum was actually easy that day.
Either I lucked out in a foreign setting, or possibly my school system back home was more advanced in math at least.
One thing they definitely are ahead in is foreign language. German students start learning English or another language in 5th grade.
The most prominent difference, especially in a smaller town of course, was the setup and details of the school.
There was actually chalkboards in most of the classrooms!
At my alma mater, everyone had to stay in the building for lunch. There was another school in the district, though, where they were allowed to go off campus to eat.
This was another big difference in the German high school. Most of the kids got on their bikes and either went home or went to a restaurant in the town center for lunch. This was so nice!
We went to a restaurant that's specialty is currywurst. You will see this dish everywhere in Germany, and it is delicious!
I tried it at this restaurant a different day. When we went for lunch during school, we just shared a big plate of french fries and I also had a burger (burgers are not Germany's specialty haha). They dip their fries in mayo - sounds weird but I've still been doing it 2 years later!
Now here's a unique detail! Vreden's Eis Cafe is very popular with the locals as well. I ate here twice!
"Eis" means ice cream, and this place specializes in ice cream that is put through a noodle mold.
This practice started in the late 60's, and is pretty contained within Germany.
It is only found at some gelaterias and specialty ice cream parlors.
It is most popular with strawberry topping to mimic the spaghetti sauce.
I'm just a devoted choc-o-holic.
Spaghettieis
Offshore Berkelbeach
There is a manmade beach in Vreden on the shore of a pond, right off of the Berkel river.
It's a hotspot for young adults. They have a bar and small restaurant, and the popular thing to get is pizza.
There were some swans when we drove up to the beach - so keep an eye out for them! Especially since they can be feisty!
Flamingo Island
Flamingos are significant to Vreden.
In the western area of Vreden is the Zwillbrocker Venn, which is a wetland nature reserve where these beautiful animals can be found.
There are plenty of walking trails and wildlife viewing stations.
It is the northernmost breeding ground for flamingos worldwide.
In Zwillbrock we ate at the outdoor Hotel Restaurant Kloppendiek, and I had my favorite: Jaeger Schnitzel and croquettes!
We had a walk through the chapel parallel to the restaurant, and then went to the nature reserve and saw the Flamingoinsel (Flamingo island - pictured above). There was a large amount of water between us and the birds, so this was the best shot I could get of them at full zoom with my point-n-shoot.
Bauerngolf
(farmers golf)
In Zwillbrock we also played bauerngolf at an outdoor recreation center called Irrgarten Zwillbrock.
It's basically a clunky cross between croquet and golf. And it's less proper - which is much more fun!
The clubs have wooden clogs on the end, and we hit miniature soccer balls around the farmland (amongst cows and other cuties) into numbered holes.
You keep track of how many hits it takes each player per hole, and the one with the least amount at the end wins.
I am quite competitive so I managed to win, and they gave me a certificate and a mini wooden bauerngolf club that has "Siegermannschaft" enscribed on the side. Nice!
This was quite the unique experience!
It's definitely a good way to burn some energy!
WARNING
rollerblade at your own risk
Rollerblading is very popular in Germany, alongside riding bikes. I have a lot of experience rollerskating in a rink, but I do not suggest rollerblading for the first time in a foreign country on a road with obstacles.
I sprained my ankle, went to get it x-rayed at the local little hospital and everything, and that had me sitting around for a couple of days (bummer).
The rest of the trip it was tolerably sore to walk around on. I even trekked up the stairs of a lighthouse, and hustled around on foot through Amsterdam with it!
Try new things, but be careful, especially if you still have a lot left on your itinerary.
I did see a handful of people rollerblading in Vreden so I guess it is a good place to exercise that skill.
All in all it's a funny story to tell!
It even got my teacher and I a ride on the golf cart through an airport on the way home!
Interesting tidbit:
When we were walking around town,
we passed a house that had this arrangement of flowers on their hedge.
A man in the driveway pointed and said that they just got married. Apparently some people in Germany do this for newlyweds!
These are the couples' initials.
Cute!
Kegel
This game is extremely similar to bowling!
The balls are about half the size, though.
The main difference is that there is a bar/rope about a foot off the ground at the beginning of the lane, that the ball has to go under when you roll.
It's really fun! It's a lot more satisfying since I could chuck the ball a lot harder and faster, since it is so much smaller than a bowling ball.
Go to Restaurant Burgschänke in the town center to enjoy this game!
Lastly, if you want to lock in those great memories, there is a picturesque lock bridge in the Stadtpark.
This park is so lovely. It is perfect for a stroll or a bike ride.
I was excited that they had a lock bridge - I think it is so neat how globally romanticized this simple, small, and meaningful thing is.
Vreden is an extremely lovable town
It is a hidden gem
I would recommend anyone to visit here
If you have the means to get involved with foreign exchange or hosting a foreign exchange student, I cannot encourage you enough
It is life-changing. For the better. For a bigger horizon.
Get out of your comfort zone. Talk to people, whether it's for 2 seconds or a conversation that will start a lasting connection
It's worth it
It will lead you to discover and learn so much
GO SEE THE WORLD! it's waiting
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