Since the end of the 1970s it has become renown outside the region for protests against the atomic waste depot at Gorleben and the call for the so-called Free Republic of Wendland in 1980 - a protest camp that was later cleared by police.
1970. aastate lõpust saati sai see väljaspool piirkonda kuulsaks Gorlebeni tuumajäätmete hoidla vastaste protestide poolest ja kutsuti 1980. aastal niinimetatud Republik Freies Wendland - protestilaager, mille politsei hiljem likvideeris.