Altes Pumpwerk

About the museum

Main Pumping Station I in Findorff was built between 1913 and 1915 to designs by Bremen's municipal building department, a functional structure with echoes of Reform architecture and Neo-Baroque. For around 80 years it pumped a large share of Bremen's wastewater out of the city, until it was replaced by a new pumping station and shut down in the mid-1990s. The largely original facility has been a protected monument since 1995.

In 1997, former employees of Bremen's municipal sewer department founded the Verein Altes Pumpwerk to preserve the building. Working on their own, they set up a museum: the historical exhibition in the pump hall opened in 1999, a section of the large inflow sewer became accessible to visitors in 2000, an exhibition on the working world of the sewer department followed in the basement in 2005, and a brick-built demonstration sewer in 2007.

On display are the massive pump units from 1915, historical fittings and tools used by sewer builders, a city model showing privy oriels jutting out over the Weser, Bremen's oldest sewer, and a restored high-pressure sewer-flushing vehicle from the 1980s. The exhibition explains how the city dealt with its filth before a proper sewer system existed and what effort is needed today.

Since 2008, the engine hall has also served as a stage for concerts, cabaret, readings and opera performances, including in cooperation with the Hochschule für Künste. In 2010 the association received the Bremer Denkmalpflegepreis (Bremen heritage conservation award) for its volunteer work; it is sponsored by hanseWasser.

Highlights

• Original 1915 pump hall with giant machines
• Walk-through underground sewer and demonstration sewer
• Exhibition on the history of wastewater and hygiene in Bremen
• Guided tours by former sewer department employees
• Cultural events in the historic engine hall

Permanent exhibitions

• Maschinenhalle von 1915 – The original pump hall with its large pump units and fittings from the station's working years.
• Ausstellung zur Bremer Abwassergeschichte – From privy oriels and open ditches to today's sewer cleaning and treatment technology, plus the working world of the sewer department in the basement.
• Unterirdischer Kanal und Schaukanal – A walk-through section of the old inflow sewer and a demonstration sewer bricked by the association convey what it was like to work underground.

Operated by

Altes Pumpwerk e.V.

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Free admission on opening days; donations welcome. Cultural events charge their own admission.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

According to the museum, accessible except for the basement level (underground sewer).

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Getting there & parking

Turn from Utbremer Ring into Salzburger Straße at the level of the recycling center, then follow the signs. Groups with vehicles over 3 m in height should mention this when registering.

Amenities & dining

• Café: not available
• Restaurant: not available

Drinks served at events.

Events & venue rental

During the association's cultural events, the engine hall seats up to 130 people; no information on private rentals.

Plan your visit