Emden Links

Since the mid-1950's, together with the Rotary Club of Droitwich, we have had an informal 'twinning' arrangement with the Rotary Club of Emden, in northern Germany.

Emden sits on the estuary of the River Ems on the North Sea coast in Lower Saxony, approximately 250 km west of Hamburg.

With a population of 50,000 Emden is dominated by two main industries: vehicle manufacture and shipbuilding. Volkswagon employs some 10,000 workers, producing its Passat model, and the harbour area is VW's main facility for the export of its home-produced model range. The main shipbuilding concern, based on the River Ems, is Nordseewerke, part of ThyssenKrupp, which concentrates on the production of cruise liners.

The Rotary Club of Emden has some 50 active members, representing all parts of the town's business and professional community.

Our most recent visit to Emden was in 2018, when six Rotarians and partners from Redditch & Droitwich visited the town, and enjoyed a packed programme of visits and social activities.

Sadly, due to the closure of Droitwich club, and changing membership of Redditch, the relationship with Emden ended in 2023, when representatives of both clubs visited Emden for a final celebration of this longstanding and fruitful relationship.