Feuerwehrmuseum Zeven

About the museum

The Feuerwehr-Museum Zeven association was founded on September 13, 1986. The idea arose from two circumstances: a large private collection on the subject became available, and fire safety education was being neglected by many volunteer fire brigades. After only two years of construction, the museum opened on November 26, 1988, on a site of about 2,000 square meters at the time.

The complex now comprises four buildings with about 2,500 square meters of covered space, as well as an outdoor area with mature trees and a rebuilt bell tower. In the main building, the first floor shows large equipment from the hand pump to the fire engine of the 1940s, including a self-restored and operational Opel KS 10 motor fire pump from 1929. The second floor is devoted to the development of fire protection, from "Feuerzauber" (fire magic) through the medieval city fires to the volunteer fire brigades; it also includes breathing apparatus, hand-held fire extinguishers and helmets from abroad. The third floor houses a model-making collection.

A dedicated fire safety education section addresses school classes and kindergartens. In a separate hall, ladder vehicles are on display, ranging from the balance ladder to the turntable ladder. Since 1995, a reconstructed fire engine house of the kind small municipalities used around 1900 has also stood on the grounds. A specialist library with more than 2,000 media items complements the museum.

Highlights

• Opel KS 10 motor pump from 1929, self-restored and operational
• Collection from hand pumps to 1940s fire engines
• Dedicated fire safety education section with hands-on elements for children
• Hall with ladder vehicles from balance ladder to turntable ladder
• Reconstructed fire engine house from around 1900 on the grounds
• Model-building collection and fire service specialist library

Permanent exhibitions

• Entwicklung des Brandschutzes – The second floor covers the history from "Feuerzauber" (fire magic) through the medieval city fires to the founding of the volunteer fire brigades, and shows breathing apparatus, hand-held fire extinguishers and helmets from abroad.
• Großgeräte und Löschfahrzeuge – On the first floor, the collection ranges from hand pumps to 1940s fire engines, including a working 1929 Opel motor pump.
• Leiterfahrzeuge – A separate hall displays ladders from hand-drawn balance ladders to horse-drawn and motorized turntable ladders.

Founded

1988

Operated by

Feuerwehr-Museum Zeven e.V.

Admission & discounts

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

The museum has a dedicated section on fire safety education: children learn with a house telephone and coloring sheets how to make an emergency call, and discover old and new fire service toys, some of them to touch. Many exhibits are accessible and not behind glass.

Getting there & parking

The museum is only a few minutes' walk from the town center (Meyerhöfen 7).

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit