Neuenkirchen

Had a squirrel ever stolen your lunch? In Neuenkirchen, it wouldn’t be surprising. Three golden squirrels, nuts clutched in their paws, adorn the village’s coat of arms, a nod to the noble Wampen family who once held sway in these parts. Neuenkirchen, just north of Greifswald, is more than just charming squirrels. This village, nestled beside the Ryck river and the Greifswalder Bodden, pulses with a history as rich as the soil that sustains it. Neuenkirchen’s story begins long before its first documented mention as “Nienkerken” (new church) in 1285. The area whispers tales of a lost Slavic village named Damme, meaning “oak wood,” likely destroyed in ancient feuds. German settlers later built anew on the same ground, breathing life into what we now know as Neuenkirchen. By 1298, the village transformed from a Slavic settlement into a German farming community. For centuries, the land belonged to Eldena Monastery. After secularization, it became ducal property until 1634. Then, Duke Bogislaw XIV gifted Neuenkirchen to the University of Greifswald. Imagine the farmers, tending their fields, owing their livelihood to academia. This arrangement lasted for generations. Between 1816 and 1859, some villagers purchased their land from the university, carving out their own piece of independence. Neuenkirchen isn’t just about land and lords. It’s also a place of literary inspiration. Alwine Wuthenow, born in the village’s thatched-roof parsonage in 1820, became a celebrated Low German poet. Her words, like echoes of the Bodden breezes, carried the spirit of Neuenkirchen far and wide. Today, Neuenkirchen thrives, a blend of old and new. The presence of the Amt Landhagen administrative offices and a bustling commercial center have nearly doubled its population since 1990. The 14th-century brick church, with its timber-framed tower, still stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of Neuenkirchen. Its surrounding churchyard, dotted with historic gravestones, whispers stories of generations past. Neuenkirchen’s charm extends beyond its history and architecture. The village’s flag, a vibrant mix of blue and white stripes with the iconic squirrel crest, dances in the Baltic wind. It symbolizes the enduring connection between Neuenkirchen’s past and its future.