Tierpark Nordhorn

Tierpark Nordhorn is a scientifically managed zoo in the district of Grafschaft Bentheim in Lower Saxony, Germany, close to the Dutch border. It presents itself as the "Familienzoo im Grünen" (family zoo in the green) and is the third-largest zoo in Lower Saxony. The park houses roughly 2,500 animals in more than 100 species, from monkeys to zebras, and combines leisure and recreation with species conservation, environmental education and research. It is also an "Archepark" with a "Vechtewelt" area devoted to regional history and rare domestic breeds. The zoo traces its origins to 1949, when the farmer's son and trained bricklayer Heinrich Johannink leased a 9,360 m² woodland plot from the town of Nordhorn at Heseper Weg to establish a private "Heimat-Tiergarten", which opened on 16 September 1950. After early financial difficulties, a curatorium took over in 1955, and in 1962 responsibility passed to a registered association. A lease crisis in 1990 forced the removal of enclosures and a reduction of the animal stock, and visitor numbers fell from about 110,000 in 1990 to 70,000 in 1993. The association went bankrupt, but in 1994 the non-profit Tierpark Nordhorn gGmbH was founded with the town of Nordhorn and the district of Grafschaft Bentheim as shareholders. This restructuring, together with full-time management and reliable public support, led to a period of growth, including a doubling of the zoo grounds in its 1999 anniversary year. Today the zoo covers about 12 hectares of landscaped parkland and is recognised by the state of Lower Saxony as an education site for sustainable development (BNE) and as an "Archeschule". Its zoo school welcomes around 13,000 children and 4,000 adults each year. As a regional species- and nature-conservation centre, it manages roughly 170 hectares of protected natural areas and hosts the Ecological Station Grafschaft Bentheim/Emsland-Süd, which oversees a territory of about 40,000 hectares. The zoo is a member of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA, since 1996), the Verband der Zoologischen Gärten (VdZ, since 2004) and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA, since 2007). Visitor numbers grew strongly in the 2010s, exceeding 400,000 for the first time in 2014 with 408,729 visitors, then 409,011 in 2015, 429,889 in 2016, 438,572 in 2017 and 451,647 in 2018; about half of the guests come from the nearby Netherlands. The annual Christmas market, held around the second and third Advent weekends near the Vechtehof, helps attract visitors in the colder season. The zoo continues to develop its facilities, including a new South America walk-through enclosure opened at the end of 2017 for alpacas and maras, and it remains active in conservation projects such as the curlew protection project and amphibian projects.

The origins of Tierpark Nordhorn date back to 1949, when Heinrich Johannink, the son of a Nordhorn farmer and a trained bricklayer, leased a 9,360 m² woodland plot from the town of Nordhorn at Heseper Weg to establish a privately run "Heimat-Tiergarten". He opened it on 16 September 1950. As a purely private operation, the home zoo soon proved unviable, and in 1955 a "Kuratorium des Nordhorner Tiergartens" took over responsibility. In 1962 the curatorium was able to hand over the business to the voluntary board of a registered association, which successfully sought public support for the small zoo. In 1990 the park entered an existential crisis when the lease for an important part of the grounds expired and was not renewed. The enclosures there and the entrance area had to be dismantled and the animal stock reduced, leading to a dramatic fall in visitor numbers: from around 110,000 in the record year 1990 to 70,000 in 1993. The inevitable bankruptcy also brought the end of the supporting association. The turning point came with the founding of the non-profit "Tierpark Nordhorn gGmbH" in 1994, with the town of Nordhorn and the district of Grafschaft Bentheim as shareholders. Full-time management and reliable support from the town and district began a success story that in the 1999 anniversary year brought the urgently needed expansion — doubling the zoo grounds. On 12 hectares of landscaped parkland, more than 2,000 animals from 100 species could then be shown, cared for by zookeepers, biologists and veterinarians. The zoo uniquely links its zoological work with nature conservation in the local region and places special emphasis on the preservation and breeding of rare domestic breeds. With admission to the European zoo association EAZA in 1996, the Verband der Zoologischen Gärten (VdZ) in 2004 and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) in 2007, the former "Heimattiergarten" had finally become a recognised zoological garden. Visitors rewarded this development: in 2014 the 400,000 mark was exceeded for the first time with 408,729 visitors, followed by records of 409,011 in 2015, 429,889 in 2016, 438,572 in 2017 and 451,647 in 2018; about half of the guests come from the nearby Netherlands. The annual Christmas market, held from the second to the third Advent weekend near the Vechtehof, plays an important role in attracting visitors during the cold season. Since 2001, the lion sculptures from the Bentheim Gate, dating at the latest from the mid-17th century, stood in front of the entrance building on the zoo's expansion grounds. They are now placed at the park's Lion Gate, which separates the historic Vechte area from the part of the park that existed from the beginning. In November 2011 the new enclosure for wood bison opened, and the complete facility including a new circular path was released in the second quarter of 2012. On 1 April 2012 the new managing director, veterinarian Dr. Nils Kramer, took office; his predecessor Thomas Berling had been elected mayor of Nordhorn in the 2011 Lower Saxony municipal elections. On 28 March 2013 the new aviary for eagle owls and ravens opened, its volume increased from 400 to 550 cubic metres. In January 2013 construction began on a new show feed kitchen, which was presented to the public on 13 June 2015, allowing visitors a look behind the scenes and improving working conditions for staff. In September 2015 a new 800 m² enclosure with a heated house was created for meerkats next to the playground and "Max-Abenteuerland". In March 2015 construction of a zoo school began, and the new building opened on 7 June 2016, shifting focus to the school character and alignment with school curricula. At the end of 2017 the new walk-through South America enclosure opened, housing alpacas and maras. The Vechtehof is currently being converted into the Vechtewelt. The Vechtehof itself is a former new farmer's house from Frensdorf, rebuilt in 2000 on the zoo's expansion grounds according to old plans and using original timber framing. It serves as the core building of an ensemble recreating the living conditions of a small farmstead in the former parish of Nordhorn. Several outbuildings such as stables and sheds have since been added, and various domestic animal breeds once common in Grafschaft Bentheim, including the "Swatbunte" Bentheim pig, have found a home there. The original farmstead stood at today's Friedrich-Ebert-Straße 23 in Nordhorn; before its demolition in 1998 it was known after its last users as the Adam Dorn fruit and seed shop. A sandstone plaque on the front of the Vechtehof reads "Hofstelle Dorn". The founder and builder of the farm was the new farmer Harm Weduwen, and its eventful past reaches back to the development of the Frensdorf Mark and its later incorporation into the town of Nordhorn.

• 2026

  The zoo receives the City of Nordhorn Species Conservation Award again for its hedgehog project.

• 2018

  Visitor numbers reach a new record of 451,647.

• 2017

  The new walk-through South America enclosure for alpacas and maras opens at the end of the year.

• 2016

  The new zoo school building opens on 7 June.

• 2015

  The show feed kitchen is presented on 13 June; a new meerkat enclosure opens in September.

• 2014

  Visitor numbers exceed 400,000 for the first time, reaching 408,729.

• 2013

  Construction of a show feed kitchen begins in January; the new aviary for eagle owls and ravens opens on 28 March.

• 2012

  Dr. Nils Kramer becomes managing director on 1 April; the complete wood bison facility including a new circular path opens in Q2.

• 2011

  The new wood bison enclosure opens in November.

• 2007

  The zoo joins the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA).

• 2004

  The zoo joins the Verband der Zoologischen Gärten (VdZ).

• 2001

  The lion sculptures from the Bentheim Gate are placed in front of the entrance building.

• 2000

  The Vechtehof is rebuilt on the expansion grounds using old plans and original timber framing.

• 1999

  In its anniversary year, the zoo grounds are doubled in size.

• 1996

  The zoo is admitted to the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA).

• 1994

  The non-profit Tierpark Nordhorn gGmbH is founded with the town of Nordhorn and the district of Grafschaft Bentheim as shareholders.

• 1990

  Lease crisis forces dismantling of enclosures and reduction of animal stock; visitor numbers fall from about 110,000 to 70,000 by 1993.

• 1962

  The curatorium hands over the business to a registered association.

• 1955

  A curatorium takes over responsibility for the zoo.

• 1950

  The "Heimat-Tiergarten" opens on 16 September.

• 1949

  Heinrich Johannink leases a 9,360 m² woodland plot from the town of Nordhorn at Heseper Weg to establish a private home zoo.

Family-friendly, scientifically managed zoo and regional nature-conservation centre in the German-Dutch border region.

• Zoo admission tickets

  Day tickets available online and at the gate.

• Annual pass

  Provides access for 365 days and benefits such as free entry to partner zoos during Lower Saxony Zoo Days.

• Animal sponsorship (Tierpate)

  Sponsorship programme supporting the zoo's animals.

• Online shop

  Online ticket and merchandise sales.

• Zoo school programmes

  Educational programmes for school classes and other groups, attended by around 13,000 children and 4,000 adults annually.

• Christmas market

  Annual market held from the second to third Advent weekend near the Vechtehof.

• Hedgehog protection project
• Lower Saxony Zoo Days

1. 1Tierpark Nordhorn - Der Familienzoo im Grünen!tierpark-nordhorn.de
2. 2Geschichte des Vechtehofes - Tierpark Nordhorntierpark-nordhorn.de
3. 3Tierpark Nordhorn - Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Tierpark Nordhorn - Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org