Schüttorf is a town in the district of Grafschaft Bentheim in southwesternmost Lower Saxony near the Dutch border and the boundary with Westphalia. The town of Schüttorf forms with the surrounding communities the Joint Community (Samtgemeinde) of Schüttorf. It is the district's oldest town. It lies on the river Vechte, roughly 5 km east of Bad Bentheim, and 20 km southeast of Nordhorn.
Backwater on the Vechte near Schüttorf
Jacob Isaakszoon van Ruisdael: View of the Town of Schüttorf from the East, about 1650
Altena Castle's west side with gate arch, late 19th century
Today's Burg-Altena-Platz – without Altena Castle
Bad Bentheim is a town in the southwestern part of Lower Saxony, Germany, in the district of Grafschaft Bentheim on the borders of North Rhine-Westphalia and the Netherlands roughly 15 km south of Nordhorn and 20 km northeast of Enschede. It is a state-recognized thermal brine and sulphur spa town, hence the designation Bad (“Bath”). Also to be found in Bad Bentheim is the castle Burg Bentheim, the town's emblem.
Bad Bentheim with its castle
Tower (the Pulverturm) of Burg Bentheim
Bentheim Castle painted by Jacob Ruisdael in 1653
Castle walls with Pulverturm – or “Powder Tower” behind
