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New: info for your city – offices, bulky waste and property-tax rates
Topicdrill – Germany explained simply

Germany explained simply – moving, offices & paperwork in English

District · Niedersachsen

Osterholz district

Every municipality in Osterholz district with population, property-tax and trade-tax rates. Click a town for its town hall, tax office and local rules.

Municipalities
11
Population
113,340
Data year
2022

01 All municipalities

MunicipalityPopulationProperty tax BTrade tax
Osterholz-Scharmbeck29,757450 %420 %
Lilienthal20,148480 %430 %
Schwanewede19,918450 %450 %
Ritterhude14,787640 %470 %
Worpswede9,237490 %400 %
Grasberg7,672480 %400 %
Hambergen5,576470 %400 %
Vollersode2,987420 %370 %
Holste1,359450 %400 %
Axstedt1,210420 %370 %
Lübberstedt689420 %370 %

02 Moving to Osterholz district

Osterholz district in Niedersachsen has 11 municipalities and about 113,340 inhabitants; the largest is Osterholz-Scharmbeck (29,757). You register at the citizens' office of your new municipality; vehicles are registered at the district's registration office.

  1. STEP 01Register within 2 weeksRegister your new address at the registration office of your new municipality in Osterholz district within two weeks of moving in. Bring your ID and the landlord's confirmation (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung).
  2. STEP 02Re-register your carUpdate your vehicle registration at the registration office of Osterholz district; within the same district it's often possible online.
  3. STEP 03Tell your tax officeYour income tax is handled by the tax office for your new address; the registration office usually passes your new address on automatically.
  4. STEP 04Parking permit for the vanApply for a temporary no-parking zone at your town's road traffic office, usually 1–3 weeks before moving day.
  5. STEP 05Update contractsElectricity, internet, broadcasting fee (Rundfunkbeitrag), bank, insurance and health insurance – and set up mail forwarding.
Personal moving checklist for Osterholz district

03 Property tax in Osterholz district

Property tax (Grundsteuer) is calculated as assessed base amount (Grundsteuermessbetrag, shown on the notice from your tax office) × the local rate (Hebesatz). In Osterholz district (median) the rate for residential and commercial property (Grundsteuer B) was 450 % in 2022.

Base amount (Messbetrag)Property tax per year in Osterholz district (median)Per quarter
€30€135€34
€60€270€68
€120€540€135

The rate was 60 points above the median in Niedersachsen (390 %). The rate was 70 points above the median in Germany (380 %).

Businesses in Osterholz district (median) pay trade tax (Gewerbesteuer) at a rate of 400 %; the tax is the trade-tax base amount × this rate.

Since 2025 the new property-tax values apply; many municipalities adjusted their rates. Your notice from the municipality (Grundsteuerbescheid) is binding.

04 Bulky waste & recycling

In Osterholz district, bulky waste (Sperrmüll) is collected by the waste company of the town or district – usually after booking. Electrical appliances, paint, batteries and chemicals don't belong in household waste: take them to a recycling centre (Wertstoffhof), a hazardous-waste collection or back to the shop.

? FAQ: Osterholz district

Q01Which municipalities belong to Osterholz district?

Osterholz-Scharmbeck, Lilienthal, Schwanewede, Ritterhude, Worpswede, Grasberg, Hambergen, Vollersode, Holste, Axstedt, Lübberstedt.

Q02What is the largest town in Osterholz district?

Osterholz-Scharmbeck with 29,757 inhabitants.

Q03Where is property tax highest in Osterholz district?

In 2022: Ritterhude (640 %); lowest: Lübberstedt (420 %).

Q04How many people live in Osterholz district?

About 113,340 in 11 municipalities.

Q05What is the average property tax rate in Osterholz district?

The median rate for property tax B was 450 % in 2022 (Niedersachsen: 390 %).