Rysum Travel Guide

The organ in the village church was bought from the organ maker Harmannus in Groningen in 1457. The villagers had it transported across the frozen Dollart and paid with a couple of fat cows.
Since then, the instrument has hardly been changed. Most of the work is original, and still fully functional. This makes the Rysum instrument one of the oldest organs in Lower Saxony, other sources say in the whole of Northern Europe. No matter what, the instrument is unique. For concerts and presentations, experts from all over the world come to Rysum.

If you want to hear how it sounds, check out my video on this page.

The old windmill has recently been restored and has become a cultural centre of the village. And it is a holiday home of a special kind. Groups from 6 to 16 people can rent it and stay there. The price is 16 € per person including breakfast. Details on the website (in German).

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Rysum is an old and typical Rundwarftendorf, built on a round artificial hill (Warft). The houses assemble in a circle around the church. The hill is 6 metres high and used to be the village's only protection from floods before the dikes along the nearby North Sea coastline were built.

The whole village has been well restored and has a pretty appearance. In 1998 Rysum won the first prize in Lower Saxony in the competition "Unser Dorf soll schöner werden" ("Our village shall become more beautiful").

Websites:
360° view of the village - click "Rysum 360°" on the linked page
page about the village, information for visitors, aerial view of the village
Official website of Krummhörn