AOK Cloverleaf Route

The actual starting point of the circular route is at the AOK Health Centre in Emden. From here, cyclists are guided by an information board with a map section to the marked route starting point a few hundred meters away — Wolthuser Street/Wall.

From this point, the circular route follows the signage towards Riepe via the Emden ramparts. The ramparts are a fortress complex (1606-1616) of the city that was never conquered in the past. This first section already impresses within Emden due to the high proportion of green areas with wide meadows and mighty old trees.
Along the ramparts, the route leads past various zwingers to the kettle lock. The Emden kettle lock from 1885 is Europe's only 4-chamber lock. It connects four canals and is a unique listed building.
The AOK circular route follows the "Ems-Jade Canal," with the waterbound surface of this section being easily passable. At the Wolthuser bridge, the route turns south and reaches the open countryside behind the motorway.
Via Ostermeedenweg and Schwagerweg, the "Uphuser Meer" is the first natural feature reached. Here, besides a simple break, you can buy fresh smoked fish at the nearby smokehouse or stop at Endtjer's country house inn. The route continues towards Riepe to the corner point "Wieselkebült," where the circular route leaves the peace route "Rad up Pad." A wide landscape dominated by grassland and fields prevails.
The route heads south past the "Bansmeer" and finally continues via Schwarzen Weg to the 150-year-old "Petkumer Klappe." Here, roughly halfway, cyclists have another chance to stop and refresh themselves at the eponymous inn.
Since leaving the Fries route, you look out over agricultural land crossed by ditches (mostly former spoil fields), which are occasionally broken up by rows of trees, hedges, or small woods. Mainly, you ride on an asphalt road. The route continues towards Petkum, where the AOK circular route turns left on the bridge to the Ems side canal.
At this point, a detour to the village of Petkum is worthwhile to take the ferry across the Ems to Ditzum.
Ditzum is a charming harbour town featuring a single-room church from the 13th century. The lighthouse-like bell tower dates from 1846.
A special local delicacy is the smoked eel, known as Speckaal.
Along the Ems side canal, the route is very easy to ride. Due to its recreational-only use over the years, the canal has regained naturalness and, with its distinctive riparian woods and reed beds, is one of the nicest and quietest sections of the circular route, inviting for breaks.
At the entrance to Borßum, the cyclist turns northeast onto Wykhoffsweg, leaving the canal-adjacent route. A few hundred meters further, the cycle route turns right to Fentjer Tief. Over an iron bridge, you reach Boermaweg, which takes you over the motorway (B210/A31) towards Herrentor. At Höher Friedrich-Ebert-Str./Am Heerentor, turn right onto the ramparts, which finally bring you back to the starting point, the AOK Health Centre.