Osterholz-Scharmbeck is a town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district (Kreis) of Osterholz. Population: 32,000.

Osterholz-Scharmbeck is situated in between the cities of Bremen and Bremerhaven.

History

The town was first mentioned in 1043 as Scirnbeci. The monastry in Osterholz was founded in 1182 and persisted until 1650, when Lower Saxony became mostly protestant.

Between 1978 and 1992 4200 soldiers of the US-army (2nd armored division fwd) were stationed and another 4000 family members resided in Osterholz-Scharmbeck.