25 Years Hotelcamp Reinsehlen A place of peace, where tanks once rolled

Schneverdingen, May 26, 2025. Hotelcamp Reinsehlen, located in the middle of Germany's largest nutrient-poor grassland area, celebrates its 25th anniversary. An anniversary that provides an opportunity to look back on the history of the location, which has undergone a unique transformation: from a military airfield, refugee camp, and troop training ground to the site of one of Northern Germany's unique nature hotels in the Lüneburg Heath.

“With our hotel, we are situated in the middle of nature, which bestows us with the beauty and tranquility of this place. Therefore, we would like to give something back,” describes Helko Riedinger, Managing Director of Hotelcamp Reinsehlen, outlining the goal of a current fundraising campaign for the anniversary. Through this initiative, the renaturation of the nearby Pietzmoor bog and regional reforesting projects are being supported. “It is particularly close to our hearts to protect the local natural habitat – after all, before a place of peace could emerge here, things looked very different,” says Riedinger.

First Planes, Then Tanks

With this, the hotel's managing director references the event-filled history of the area in the small village of Reinsehlen near the town of Schneverdingen. Indeed, the present-day appearance of the vast nutrient-poor grasslands is the result of decades of development. On the expansive grounds of the area roughly 60 kilometers south of Hamburg, an airfield for the German Air Force with the code name Posemuckel was established shortly after the outbreak of the Second World War. Following the end of the war, a refugee camp and a hospital found a place here before the first tanks rolled in: While Canadian armed forces withdrew after a short period, British troops utilized the terrain long-term for military exercises and ultimately remained for more than four decades, until 1994. The base camp was designated as Camp Reinsehlen – a name that endures to this day.

Renaturation After Destruction – and the Idea of a Hotel

The intensive military usage left clear marks on the landscape: Compacted soil, destroyed vegetation, and a surface rutted by vehicles defined the scene. Yet precisely due to this decades-long military use, the area was largely spared from agricultural development and building construction – a paradoxical refuge for rare animal and plant species. Following the withdrawal of the British troops, a comprehensive renaturation of the site began. The land was meticulously ecologically restored: Paths were dismantled, legacy contamination removed, and native species targeted for conservation. Today, the area is not only a habitat for woodlarks, European nightjars, and sand pinks, but also a valuable example of the interplay between nature conservation, history, and sustainable use.

In the wake of these renaturation measures, plans were also drawn up for repurposing the site. Ideas to erect a hotel adapted to nature on the camp grounds took concrete shape. „This was certainly not a traditional location for a hotel,“ describes Helko Riedinger, Managing Director of Hotelcamp Reinsehlen. „But that exact scenario holds an opportunity: a place with character, history, and expansive open space.“ In partnership with the Lower Saxony Nature Conservation Academy (Norddeutsche Naturschutz-Akademie), Hotelcamp Reinsehlen launched operations in October 1999 with 27 rooms and two event halls.

Dignified Visits – and Their Consequences

A significant catalyst for establishing the hotel was the Dalai Lama's visit in 1998. As part of the „Buddha's Path to Happiness“ event, thousands of visitors gathered on the grounds, highlighting the location's potential for hosting events and gatherings. For many attendees, it was a moment of inner reflection – in a place that was just beginning to rediscover itself and transition into a haven of tranquility.

Even prior to the stay of the Tibetan spiritual leader, Camp Reinsehlen hosted prominent visitors who drew crowds from the surrounding region: In 1965, Queen Elizabeth II visited the British Armed Forces across the dusty expanse.

Today: A Nature Hotel with Vision

Today, the location primarily attracts people seeking a peaceful retreat: Across 91 rooms overlooking the open landscape, leisure seekers find quiet, and companies find creative spaces for conferences and workshops. Sustainability-conscious travelers value the credible, transparent concept; wedding couples celebrate amid birches and grasses; and hikers and cyclists are active right where soldiers once marched. The eco-conscious seminar area, the restaurant featuring regional cuisine, and the sustainable energy concept underscore the hotel's ambition to remain one of Northern Germany's premier nature hotels.

„We are proud to have been part of this special landscape for a quarter of a century,“ emphasizes Helko Riedinger. „Anyone visiting us today senses not only the tranquility – but also the journey this location has undertaken.“ A unique journey that has shaped the site into what it is today.

Jan Lohmann, Lodge Reinsehlen

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