Buchholz in der Nordheide

We would like to invite you to discover the shopping town of Buchholz, with its many shops, colourful weekly market, and modern retail park.

Explore the cultural town of Buchholz with the Empore event venue. Experience the sports townof Buchholz when German championships are fought out in the new Nordheidehalle and professional cyclists battle their way up Bremer Straße. Or go straight to the start of the largest town run in the region. Visit the family town of Buchholz. We look forward to seeing you.

Buchholz - close and central

Buchholz in der Nordheide is a lovely (small) town in the attractive south of Hamburg. Surrounded by charming landscapes such as Schwarze Berge, Lüneburg Heath, Altes Land, and Elbmarsch, the town of Buchholz is directly connected to the international cities of Hamburg (25 minutes by train or car) and Bremen (50 minutes by train or car).

For the interested visitor, the region offers active leisure activities such as walking, horseback riding, paddling, carriage and bicycle tours, swimming, golf, tennis and squash. The centre of cultural life is the Empore event venue. Whether theatre, opera, musical, or light reflection, there is something for everyone. An attractive pedestrian zone with artworks, a pond and a covered shopping arcade invite you to stroll through the city. Modern brick architecture characterizes the image of the young town. Buchholzer eateries and hotels have an excellent reputation far beyond the borders of our region. Seasonal and regional specialties such as smelt, asparagus, Heidschnucke sheep, and game are top of the menu. And because of the incomparable heather potatoes, gourmets come from far away.

A journey into history

In 1450 the small heath village of Bockholte was first mentioned in documents with two full and three half farmsteads. At the turn of the last century, the Buchholz railway gave it a new face. The village became the main hub of the routes from Bremen-Hamburg, Bremervörde-Lüneburg, and Buchholz-Hannover. This good traffic connection developed general trade alongside the previously dominant agriculture. After the Second World War, people from Hamburg not only saw it as a place to visit, but chose Buchholz more and more as their residence. Therefore, in 1958, the community was designated as a town. Today, the town of Buchholz in the northern heathland has almost 40 000 inhabitants and offers   traces of the former village history , in addition to interesting, modern architecture.

Shop, stroll, and enjoy

Buchholz town - everything to hand! Small boutiques, elegant specialty shops, and the glass Passage City Centre invite you for a relaxing daily stroll. Cozy cafes and popular restaurants, from home-style cuisine to international gastronomy, are looking forward to your visit. Twice a week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 7am to 2pm, there is the lively market. Everything is here – fresh vegetables, fruits, meat, flowers, herbs and much more. Come rain or shine, you will always find new discoveries and surprises in the many shopping streets of Buchholz, where the retail trade has so much on offer for you. For example, in Neuen Straße you will find an interesting mix of gastronomic delicacies. Beyond Kabenhof it is worth taking a detour to Poststraße. There is not only the eponym, but the entrance to the pedestrian area has many small shops that you will want to discover. Fancy a break? Among the green cathedrals (as the locals call their old groups of trees), cafés and restaurants around the market square offer appetizing and thirst-quenching breaks.

Culture in the town

The Empore event venue is located in the pedestrian area, in the heart of the town. With its attractive ambience and modern, extensive technology, the gallery is the cultural hub of the town. The programme ranges from classical theatre to light entertainment shows. But social events are also arranged here with great food and wonderful service.

Just a stone's throw from the pedestrian zone is the Movieplexx cinema. Apart from the latest films from Hollywood, the Buchholzer Filmkunsttage also features films from beyond the mainstream. Even great art has a place in Buchholz. Kirchenstraße 6 is the home of the Kunstverein Buchholz, whose exhibitions have made a name for it among art connoisseurs and friends far beyond the borders of the town. Take a look, it's worth it!

Attractions & Excursions

Buchholz is an ideal starting point for interesting trips into the countryside.

• A particularly popular destination is Brunsberg in the middle of Lüneburg Heath Nature Reserve. At a height of 129 metres, it offers a unique view of the charming heath landscape.
• The nearby open-air museum at Kiekeberg is an attraction with many half-timbered houses and a lively history of the region.
• Right next to it is Schwarze Berge Wildlife Park. In the 50-hectare parkland there are 1,000 animals, such as bear, lynx, wolf, and elk. Daily flying shows and animal presentations are an experience for young and old.
• In the neighbouring village of Jesteburg is Kunstätte Bossard, w here you can admire the artistic work of Johann and Jutta Bossard. It includes over 5,000 items. Sculptures, paintings, graphics, and non-commercial objects show the complexity in the works of this artist couple. A new permanent exhibition will show representative examples of the oeuvre, some of which have never been exhibited before.
• In nearby Kleckerwald you should make a detour to the interesting megalithic tomb and then visit the Film Museum in Bendestorf.
• Also worth visiting is Alaris Butterfly Park in Seppensen. Hundreds of exotic species take you into the magical world of butterflies and moths

The central location of Buchholz is great for trips by car or train to Altes Land, Lüneburg Heath, to Hamburg, Bremen, Lüneburg, Stade or to the North Sea and Baltic Sea. The best way to explore the charming surroundings of Buchholz is by bike. A well-developed network of cycle paths leads you to the most beautiful destinations.

Holm Watermill ( Holmer Mühle)

The first mention of Holm mill was in 1615 in a dispute of miller Tamke from Bendestorf. In the Seven Years' War (1756-1763), the French probably burned down Holm mill in November 1757, but baron Ludwig Schenk von Winterstedt, owner of Holm manor, had it rebuilt as early as 1758. In the second half of the 19th century, the grinder was fundamentally renewed, so that there was nothing left of the apparatus from 1758. After the Second World War, Holm mill served as a refugee camp, and only now and then did it do any grinding, until in the seventies the mill became idle and shut down. The Buchholz History and Museum Association leased the mill in 1977 and was able to complete the installation of a new water wheel at Easter, 1981. Since then, milling demonstrations have been regularly held at the mill.

Dibbersen Windmill

The windmill, which was built in 1871, is used as an event venue and the gallery on the first floor is also used for exhibitions. The mill itself is a significant exhibit: it perches on its hill on the northern edge of the village and cannot be missed from the main road.

Sniers Hus

Sniers Hus in Seppensen exhibits home furnishings and work objects from the 17th century; they were used for centuries in the farming activities of the Northern Heath, such as Plaggen cutting, heather raking and much more.

Getting to Buchholz:
By Auto: A1, B75, B3
By train: Metronom Hamburg-Bremen, Heidebahn Buchholz-Soltau,
By bus: Heideshuttle (free!) from May until October, stopping at Buchholz ZOB (central station)