Lower Saxony chooses the winners: Backemoor, Heckenbeck and Meyenburg!

Lower Saxony chooses the winners: Backemoor, Heckenbeck and Meyenburg!

An exciting competition was once again decided in Lower Saxony, which focuses on the best villages in the country. Yesterday, September 2, 2025, the Lower Saxony Ministry of Agriculture announced the winners of the “Our Village has a Future” competition. The proud winners are the villages of Backemoor, Heckenbeck and Meyenburg, who now have the opportunity to take part in the national competition in summer 2026. State Minister Miriam Staudte congratulated the winning locations and expressed her best wishes for the upcoming competition. NDR reports that in six intensive days of competition, a jury visited a total of 18 villages that qualified for participation.

Backemoor, a district of the municipality of Rhauderfehn in the Leer district, received a lot of praise for its excellent leisure activities and the inviting design in the church area. Particular emphasis was placed on the villagers' commitment to preserving the old mill, which earned the community a special award.

Sustainability and community in focus

Heckenbeck, a district of Bad Gandersheim in the Northeim district, scored points for a sustainable lifestyle that includes health, community, alternative construction methods and mobility. The jury also praised the local supply through an organic shop and a traditional wood-fired bakery as well as the cultural offering, which is enriched by the “world stage”. It turns out that the civic engagement and creativity of villagers are of great importance in improving life in rural areas. The competition, which was held for the 27th time, has changed in several facets since its founding in 1961 - from a pure flower decoration competition to a competition that focuses on sustainable village development. BMLE emphasizes that the competition makes a significant contribution to improving the quality of life and promoting civic engagement.

Meyenburg, which also received an award, shows how tradition and modernity can harmonize with each other. The town in the municipality of Schwanewede in the Osterholz district received particular praise for its lush green spaces, cottage gardens and a strong welcoming culture. The association system in Meyenburg also helps to strengthen the sense of community and shows how villagers stand together for their homeland.

Final event in Kirchboitzen

The final event, at which the 18 village projects will be honored, will take place on September 22nd in Kirchboitzen (Heidekreis district). A look back at the development of rural areas shows how important such competitions are in meeting the challenges of demographic change and urbanization. The Ministry for the Environment, Climate, Mobility, Agriculture and Consumer Protection aims, among other things, to improve the quality of life in rural areas and relies on citizen participation and strengthening existing potential.

Overall, this competition clearly shows that the villages are much more than just residences - they are vibrant communities that shine through commitment and cohesion. The preparations for the 2026 national competition are now within reach and we can look forward to seeing how these villages will present themselves on the larger stage.