Das „Silber des Meeres" – Die Geschichte der Leeraner Heringsfischerei

Fishing has always been a part of life along the Leda and Ems rivers. But it was not until the construction of the new harbor from 1899 to 1903 that the conditions for an efficient herring fishery in Leer were created. The founding of the Herring Fishing Company in 1905 marked the beginning of a new era for the city.
As early as the first year, the first steam-powered loggers set sail for the North Sea. Catch volumes grew steadily, and the fleet expanded. In 1937, Leer’s herring fishery reached its peak with 32 loggers.
At its peak, nearly 1,000 people worked directly or indirectly for the “silver of the sea”: sailors and captains, net knitters and packing line workers, blacksmiths, coopers, office clerks, and many others.
A distinct working world developed around the harbor. On “Netzland,” nets were mended, spruce barrels were crafted, and herring were sorted, salted, and shipped to many regions. The harbor was a workplace, a meeting place, and a promise of the future all at once.
However, the exhibition also highlights the changes that took place. In the late 1950s, the industry came under pressure due to sales crises, falling prices, and the absence of herring shoals. Despite technical innovations and new fishing grounds, the decline could not be halted.
Documents, photographs, and personal stories recount this era of new beginnings, prosperity, and farewell.
The exhibition is sponsored by the Aloys Wobben Foundation and the Ostfriesische Landschaft