Ringstedt belonged to the
Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen, established in 1180. In 1648 it was transformed into the
Duchy of Bremen, which was first ruled in
personal union by the Swedish Crown – interrupted by a Danish occupation (1712–1715) – and from 1715 on by the
Hanoverian Crown. and Lutheran
Adiaphora. In 1807 the ephemeric
Kingdom of Westphalia annexed the Duchy of Bremen, before
France annexed it in 1810. In 1813 the Duchy of Bremen was restored to the
Electorate of Hanover, which – after its upgrade to the
Kingdom of Hanover in 1814 – incorporated it in a
real union. The ducal territory, including Ringstedt, became part of the new
Stade Region, established in 1823. Ringstedt is twinned with the Kentish village of
West Farleigh in England. This relationship was built on many years of friendship developed through both communities and their sports clubs. ==Sights==