Bodies of water, islands, wet meadows, and the Ems River characterize the Steinhorst Basin near Delbrück-Steinhorst. Since the late 1980s, an artificially created habitat for waterfowl and wading birds has been developed across approximately 80 hectares. The Steinhorst Basin is considered the largest reserve in North Rhine-Westphalia that was specifically planned and created by humans for nature conservation.
The shallow waters and wet meadows provide suitable areas for numerous native and migratory bird species to breed, rest, and forage. Among the birds that can be observed are herons, cormorants, ducks, geese, grebes, and snipes. Amphibians, dragonflies, and plants of wetland habitats also find suitable conditions here. The Steinhorster Becken is part of the European Special Protection Area (SPA) “Rietberger Emsniederung mit Steinhorster Becken.”
The nature reserve itself is closed to the public to protect the wildlife. However, visitors can observe the birdlife with binoculars or a telescope from the crest of the final dike, a hiking trail, and the observation points along the northern edge.
General information
Parking Available
Eligibility
Pet allowed
Suitable for Pushchair
Payment methods
- Entrance Free
Directions & Parking facilities
- The best way to reach the Steinhorster Becken nature reserve is via Neubrückstraße. Coming from Delbrück, drive to Steinhorst and take the second exit at the traffic circle into Neubrückstraße. Shortly after Café Brinkmeier you will find the parking lot on the left-hand side and the Steinhorster Becken on the right-hand side.
License (master data)
Stadt Delbrück / Stabstelle Öffentlichkeitsarbeit/Stadtmarketing/Wirtschaftsförderung
