What Landkreis Aurich does

Landkreis Aurich is a public administrative district (Kreisverwaltung) in the extreme northwest of Lower Saxony, Germany, and the largest district in East Frisia (Ostfriesland). Established in 1977 through the Kreisreform, the district serves approximately 190,000 residents across 24 cities and municipalities, including the East Frisian islands of Juist, Norderney, and Baltrum. It provides the full statutory scope of German district-level public administration: vehicle registration and driver's licensing, social welfare administration (Wohngeld, BAföG, Elterngeld, Bürgergeld processing), youth and family services, public health, school authority (Schulträger), public transport organizing (Aufgabenträger ÖPNV) including the eight-line PlusBus-Ostfriesland network, environmental protection, building permitting, and renewable energy project approvals.

The district's service delivery combines a digital front door — the kommune365.de Online-Kreishaus portal for e-government transactions, the Hilfekompass citizen guidance platform, and a GIS portal — with a decentralized physical service network spanning the Kreishaus in Aurich and branch offices in Norden, Pewsum, Großheide, and on Norderney. Its underlying technology stack is conventional and privacy-first: WordPress on Hetzner infrastructure, protected by Cloudflare Turnstile, with Koko Analytics (open-source, non-personal) for visitor statistics. Specialized tools include the Mustergliederung § 6b WindBG template for wind energy permitting and the Medienzentrum offering VR, 3D printing, and podcasting for schools and non-profits.

Landkreis Aurich is funded through the Kreisumlage (a levy collected from its 24 constituent municipalities based on fiscal capacity), supplemented by state and federal tax allocations and statutory fees for administrative services. It is governed by Landrat Olaf Meinen (departing) with an elected Kreistag, and operates a wholly-owned commercial holding entity (Landkreis Aurich Beteiligungs-gGmbH) now managed by Thomas Hohlfeld. The district functions as a tax-funded public monopoly within its statutory jurisdiction.

Name

Landkreis Aurich

Legal name

Landkreis Aurich

Website

https://landkreis-aurich.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Landkreis Aurich is a public administrative district in northwest Lower Saxony, Germany, serving approximately 190,000 residents across 24 municipalities. It delivers statutory public services including e-government, social welfare, education, public transport (PlusBus-Ostfriesland), health, and environmental permitting.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Administration Services

NAICS

Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation (48521), Administrative and Support Services (561), Facilities Support Services (5612)

SIC

Transportation Services (4700), Services-Social Services (8300), Local & Suburban Transit & Interurban Hwy Passenger Trans (4100)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Transportation, Parking & Mobility Administration (BPAIACAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

On-Demand/Ridehail Partnerships & Microtransit (EDALAKAD), Grounds & Exterior Services (Landscaping/Snow Removal/Parking Lot Maintenance) (IMAIAAAF)

Keywords

• Public administration services
• Citizen services portal
• Public transportation network
• Youth social services
• Administrative permitting

Headquarters

HQ city

Aurich

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Kreisfinanzierung / Municipal Tax Revenue (Kreisumlage): As a German district (Landkreis), the primary revenue stream is the Kreisumlage — a levy collected from the 24 constituent municipalities and cities within the district, based on their fiscal capacity. Additional revenue derives from general tax allocations from the state of Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen), fees for specific administrative services (e.g., vehicle registration, permits), and charges for public services such as public transport coordination.
2. Administrative Service Fees: Fees charged for specific government services including Zulassung (vehicle registration), Führerschein (driver's licenses), Wohngeld (housing allowance processing), BAföG administration, Elterngeld, Kindertagespflege (childcare placement), Unterhaltsvorschuss (advance child maintenance), and various social service assessments. These fees are set by state and federal regulations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Landkreis Aurich is a statutory regional public administration district in Lower Saxony, Germany, delivering government services to approximately 190,000 residents across 24 municipalities. Its core offerings include administrative permits and registrations (vehicle registration, driver's licenses, residence matters), social welfare administration (Wohngeld, BAföG, Elterngeld, Kindertagespflege, Bildung und Teilhabe), public transport coordination (PlusBus-Ostfriesland 8-line network), youth and family support services, public health and social-psychiatric services, environmental and wind-energy permitting, and school authority/student transport functions. Service delivery is hybrid: a centralized Online-Kreishaus digital portal plus decentralized physical offices across the district including island locations on Juist, Norderney, and Baltrum.

Product overview

Landkreis Aurich operates as a public administration district offering a portfolio of digital and in-person citizen services. The core digital offering is the Online-Kreishaus portal, which provides digital access to administrative procedures. Supporting services include the PlusBus-Ostfriesland public transportation network, the Hilfekompass citizen guidance portal, and various departmental services for youth, social welfare, health, and education. The district also operates community facilities like the Sozialpsychiatrischer Dienst counseling centers and the Dwarsloopers contact place. Specialized administrative tools include the § 6b WindBG template for wind energy permitting. The product portfolio functions as a unified administrative platform with citizen-facing digital services and physical department services across multiple domains including youth development, healthcare, social services, and environmental planning.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Online-Kreishaus (Online District Office)
• PlusBus-Ostfriesland public transport network
• Hilfekompass (Help Compass)
• Sozialpsychiatrischer Dienst (Social Psychiatric Service)
• Beratungsstelle für Kinder, Jugendliche und Eltern (Counseling Center)
• Kinder- und Jugendförderung (Children and Youth Support Programs)
• Mustergliederung § 6b WindBG (Wind Energy Permit Template)
• Kontaktstelle Dwarsloopers
• Student Transportation Coordination
• Medienzentrum (Media Center)

Quantifiable outcome

• FesteTicket for 5€ provides discounted event transport across 8+ PlusBus and TaktBus lines for regional festivals (Weinfest Aurich, Stadtfest Aurich, Bürgermarkt Wittmund, Altstadtfest Jever, etc.)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Kreisvolkshochschule (kvhs) NordencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe district has commissioned the Kreisvolkshochschule Norden to promote civic engagement. The kvhs operates the Freiwilligenagentur (volunteer agency) for the district, manages the Mehrgenerationenhaus (multi-generation center), and serves as a host for FSJ (Voluntary Social Year) and BFD (Federal Volunteer Service) placements. This is the primary civic engagement partnership.
• Verkehrsverbund Ems-Jade (VEJ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe VEJ (Ems-Jade Transport Association) is the regional public transport tariff and coordination body that the district works with to operate the PlusBus-Ostfriesland and TaktBus networks. VEJ sets tariffs and publishes bus schedules for the district's transport network.
• Landkreis Aurich Beteiligungs-gGmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA wholly-owned municipal holding company of Landkreis Aurich, established to manage and operate various district-owned business entities. Managed by Thomas Hohlfeld as of June 1, 2026, succeeding Friedhelm Endelmann.
• Zentralklinik Ostfriesische MeerecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA central hospital project (Zentralklinik) for East Frisian patients, managed through the Anevita hospital group. Referenced as a key healthcare infrastructure point in district service listings, particularly relevant for the full closure of K115 near the Zentralklinikum.
• Kommunale Datenverarbeitung Oldenburg (KDO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal data processing center for Oldenburg serving as the designated Data Protection Officer (Datenschutzbeauftragter) for Landkreis Aurich. Located at Elsässer Straße 66, 26121 Oldenburg. Contact: 0441 9714-3830.
• Falkenhütte Steibis / AllgäuminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMountain hut in Steibis, Allgäu, used as the venue for the district's annual ski and snowboard trips for youth (Erlebnispädagogische Ski- und Snowboardfreizeiten). Organized since 1974, the trips include ski instruction, snowboard activities, and visits to the Aquaria leisure pool.
• Niedersächsisches Studieninstitut HannoverminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState training institute providing administrative professional education for Verwaltungsfachangestellte (administrative specialists). The Aurich location (Lehrgangsort Aurich) is operated under this institute, where 21 apprentices graduated in 2026 and 22 in 2025.
• Bundeskonferenz für Erziehungsberatung (bke)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal conference for educational counseling providing the bke-Onlineberatung (online counseling platform) for youth and parents, offered in cooperation with Germany's 16 federal states and municipal youth welfare providers. The district's Beratungsstelle participates in this online counseling network.
• Niedersächsisches LandwirtschaftsministeriumcoreOthersThe Lower Saxony Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Consumer Protection and Regional Affairs issued the directive under which Landkreis Aurich issued its Allgemeinverfügung (general order) banning tie-stall cattle housing (Anbindehaltung) for the district and the independent city of Emden, effective July 7, 2026.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Kommune365: E-government platform provider powering the Landkreis Aurich Online-Kreishaus portal. Adjacent technology vendor enabling the district's digital service delivery; comparable platforms serve other municipalities — relevant for benchmarking digital service maturity.
• Verkehrsverbund Ems-Jade (VEJ): Regional public transport tariff and coordination body that operates the PlusBus-Ostfriesland and TaktBus networks with Landkreis Aurich. A core operational partner rather than a competitor, but functionally adjacent to the district's transport organizing role.

Direct peers

• Landkreis Cuxhaven: Lower Saxony coastal district with similar geography (North Sea coast, islands), tourism economy, and statutory responsibilities for citizen services, public transport, and environmental permitting.
• Landkreis Wesermarsch: Lower Saxony coastal/rural district with comparable administrative scope, public transport coordination, and citizen services infrastructure. Similar fiscal model relying on Kreisumlage and state allocations.
• Landkreis Leer: Neighboring East Frisia (Ostfriesland) district in Lower Saxony with comparable rural geography, population scale, and statutory responsibilities for citizen services, public transport, and social welfare. Most directly comparable peer by region and functional scope.
• Landkreis Ammerland: Lower Saxony district of comparable scale and rural profile, operating similar statutory functions including public transport coordination, social services, and citizen administrative services.
• Landkreis Friesland: East Frisia district sharing PlusBus-Ostfriesland network coordination and serving the Jever area. Comparable in administrative scope, public transport coordination, and rural Lower Saxony governance profile.
• Landkreis Wittmund: Adjacent East Frisia district with similar geography (including islands), comparable administrative scope, and overlapping PlusBus-Ostfriesland transport network participation. Strong functional overlap in citizen services and rural governance.
• Landkreis Emsland: One of the largest rural districts in Lower Saxony with comparable administrative scope, encompassing municipalities, transport coordination, and industrial-agricultural economic development. Comparable scale and functional breadth.

Regional players

• Stadt Emden: Independent city (kreisfreie Stadt) within the Landkreis Aurich governance territory. Operates its own municipal administration but participates in PlusBus-Ostfriesland and other regional coordination; relevant for understanding regional governance interactions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@LandkreisAurichMedia
• Facebookfacebook.com/LandkreisAurich
• Instagraminstagram.com/landkreis_aurich
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/landkreis-aurich

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Landkreis Aurich