Osteel

Municipality in Lower Saxony, Germany

Flag

Coat of arms

Location of Osteel within Aurich district

53°32′N 7°16′E / 53.533°N 7.267°E / 53.533; 7.267CountryGermanyStateLower SaxonyDistrictAurich Municipal assoc.Brookmerland Government

• MayorIda Bienhoff-ToppArea

• Total19.9 km² (7.7 sq mi)Elevation

1 m (3 ft)Population

(2022-12-31)^[1]

• Total2,134 • Density110/km² (280/sq mi)Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET) • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)Postal codes

26529

Dialling codes04920, 04931, 04934 (mainly)Vehicle registrationAUR

Osteel is a municipality in the district of Aurich, in Lower Saxony, Germany.

History

The village was first mentioned in 1164. The early settlement was on the edge of a moor.

The arms of the municipality shows a golden crown at the top on a blue background. In the centre is a golden hammer. Left and right of each is a golden trifoliate clover. The clovers point to the agricultural sector.

Attractions

A landmark of the village is Warnfried Church, dated to the 12th century. The church has a length of 63 meters and is dedicated to Saint Werenfried. The Organ of the Church is the second oldest in Ostfriesland. It was built in 1619 by Master Edo Evers.

Outside the church stands a monument to the astronomers David and Johannes Fabricius.^[2] David first documented several stars and drew one of the first maps of East Frisia. His son Johannes first discovered sunspots with the aid of a telescope.^[3]

Warmfried Church
Monument to David and Johannes Fabricus outside the church
Church organ

Transport

The main town is on the Osteel Bundesstraße 72 about six miles south of the old town. Railway lines connect it to Emden. After the closure of the station in 1978, the next station is now in three km south at Marienhafe.

Notable people

David Fabricius (1564–1617), astronomer
Johannes Fabricius (1587–1617), astronomer
Friedrich Vissering (1826–1885), Reichstagsabgeordneter
Dirk Agena, (1889–1934), Politician and Reichstagsabgeordneter
Siemen Rühaak (1950-), actor

References

^ "LSN-Online Regionaldatenbank, Tabelle A100001G: Fortschreibung des Bevölkerungsstandes, Stand 31. Dezember 2022" (in German). Landesamt für Statistik Niedersachsen.
^ Christie, Thony. "Twinkle, twinkle little star how I wonder where you went?". The Renaissance Mathematicus. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
^ Ashworth, Jr., William B. (9 Jan 2021). "Scientist of the Day - Johannes Fabricius". Linda Hall Library. Retrieved 2 October 2021.