Steinzeitpark Dithmarschen
Stone Age park of around 40 hectares in Albersdorf with reconstructed settlements, megalithic tombs and the Museum Steinzeithaus.
About the museum
The park's roots go back to 1904, when a museum of the prehistory and early history of Dithmarschen was founded in Heide. From 1929, under Hermann Matzen, archaeology moved to the forefront, and over decades an extensive collection of finds from the region grew. Under Volker Arnold, who headed the museum from 1975, research projects were added, such as the discovery of the Neolithic earthwork Dieksknöll.
In 1997 the Archäologisch-Ökologisches Zentrum (AÖZA) was founded in Albersdorf. On a site with original megalithic tombs and burial mounds, a reconstructed cultural landscape was created: a camp of Mesolithic hunter-gatherers, a village of the first farmers with houses and storage pits, a Stone Age forest and pastures for old breeds of livestock. In 2004 the museum moved from Heide to Albersdorf and reopened in 2005 as the Museum für Archäologie und Ökologie Dithmarschen. Rüdiger Kelm has directed the institution since 2007.
In March 2023 the Steinzeithaus opened at the park entrance, a new building designed by Rendsburg architect Hauke Mengel. It brings the collection together in a permanent exhibition on the Stone Age periods of Schleswig-Holstein with original finds spanning more than 100,000 years, and also offers space for special exhibitions, a lab for museum education and an event room. Today the park is run by AÖZA gGmbH together with the municipality of Albersdorf and the district of Dithmarschen; a scientific advisory board chaired by Kiel prehistorian Wiebke Kirleis supports its work.
Highlights
- Museum Steinzeithaus with original finds spanning more than 100,000 years
- Reconstructed Neolithic farming village
- Camp of Mesolithic hunter-gatherers
- Original megalithic tombs and burial mounds on site
- Stone Age forest with a circular trail
- Hands-on activities such as flint knapping and archery
Permanent exhibitions
- Steinzeithaus – Dauerausstellung – Opened in 2023 at the park entrance, the museum uses original finds to give an overview of the Stone Age periods in Schleswig-Holstein, from hunter-gatherers to the first farmers.
- Steinzeitdorf und Lager der Jägersteinzeit – Reconstructed houses and camps in the outdoor area show how people lived and worked in the Mesolithic and Neolithic; original megalithic tombs complete the picture.
- Founded
- 1997
- Operated by
- AÖZA gGmbH (mit Gemeinde Albersdorf und Kreis Dithmarschen)
- Director
- Dr. Rüdiger Kelm
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €10.50 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €5Children and young people aged 6 to 17, school students, trainees, volunteer service participants, university students and people with severe disabilities |
| Children & teens | €5free up to age 5 · Children and young people aged 6 to 17 pay the reduced price. |
| Seniors | –No senior discount listed. |
| Visitors with disabilities | €5People with severe disabilities pay the reduced price. |
| Students & apprentices | €5 |
| Groups (10+ people) | €8 per personPrice per person; programs and guided tours are charged separately. |
| Families | €24Parents with their children. |
| Annual pass, individual (park and museum) | €50 |
| Annual pass, family (park and museum) | €80 |
| Annual pass, children/reduced | €30 |
| Annual parking pass | €45 |
The day ticket covers the Stone Age park and the Museum Steinzeithaus; in the winter half-year day tickets cost half. Adults with a Nordbahn day ticket pay the reduced price. Parking €3 per day. The price page also lists older individual prices for the park (€7, family €16.50, reduced €3) and the Steinzeithaus that differ from the online ticket shop; the prices entered here are the shop's day-ticket prices.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- 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
The audio guide includes videos in German Sign Language. The park publishes no further information on the accessibility of the grounds and museum.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 5 |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | €24 · Parents with their children. |
- Family tours & workshops
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Hands-on stations
- Playground / play area
- Kids’ birthday parties
Many hands-on activities such as fire making and archery under guidance, a children's overview map, a children's audio guide tour with the Stone Age girl Lotta, a natural playground and a barefoot path. Children's birthdays can be booked.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Bahnhof Albersdorf · 15-min walk
Albersdorf train station (regional train Neumünster–Büsum), then about a 15-minute walk (follow signs for "Steinzeitdorf"); bus stop for line 2501 at the parking lot, Süderstraße 47.
By car
Paid parking
Large parking lot directly at the park entrance (€3 per day), also for up to 5 coaches. Overnight motorhome parking in the village at the swimming pool.
Accessible by bike via the Nord-Ostsee-Kanal long-distance trail.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Restaurant: not available
Stone Age café with coffee, cake, snacks and ice cream in the summer season on Saturdays and Sundays 11:00–17:00 (closed for operating break until October 12, 2026, then open during the fall holidays); closed in winter. Dogs are allowed on a leash in the park, but not in the museum exhibition.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Private parties
The Stone Age houses in the village can be used for a fee by arrangement for family celebrations, club parties or barbecue evenings.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes (DE) |
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Free audio guide (Nubart) on your own smartphone, usable without an internet connection. Bookable group programs, including a museum tour (1 hr), a walk through the Stone Age village (1.5 hrs), flint knapping, archery and children's birthday parties. Office reachable by phone Mon–Fri 9:30–12:30 (bookings: +49 4835 2137613). |
