Aside from the eponymous village, the municipality consists of the following districts: Abbendorf, Bergmoor, Dankensen, Dülseberg, Haselhorst, Höddelsen, Hohenböddenstedt, Hohengrieben, Lindhof, Mehmke, Molmke, Neuekrug, Peckensen, Reddigau, Schadeberg, Schadewohl, Waddekath, and Wüllmersen,[3] as well as the smaller settlements Forsthof Vier, Kerstenberg, Römke, and Schinkenmühle.

The climate is relatively dry, with an average yearly precipitation of 622 mm, lower values being registered in only 25% of the weather stations of DWD.

Precipitation is distributed fairly evenly over the year, with a difference of 1.6 between the wettest month (August) and the driest (October) and lower variations being registered only in 4% of the DWD weather stations.

The monastery Marienwerder of the Augustinian Canons, founded in 1161 by count Hermann of Warpke-Lüchow, had a major influence on the development of the village.

After the Protestant Reformation and the secularisation of the monastery in 1551, the administration of a demesne of the state of Brandenburg and a noble women's convent were established in its place.

Opened in 1911 by the local doctor, Goerg Schultze, the museum comprises more than 20 mostly timber-framed historical houses and farm buildings, as well as a post mill.

Alte Darre, the old brewing and baking house of the former monastery dating back to the 14th century, has been restored in the early 2010s and is used as the local historical museum.