Handwerkermuseum und Wassermühle

About the museum

The museum is located in the listed Sittensen water mill directly on the Oste River; the former barn across from it, now used as the museum forge, belongs to the complex. The mill is first mentioned in records in the 16th century. It originally belonged to the Stift Verden (Verden foundation) and later passed to the Horneburg castle-man Diedrich Schulte. In 1701 the Bellmann miller family took it over; in 1839 the Gohde family took over through marriage and ran the business until the 1980s.

In 1984 the municipality of Sittensen acquired the building and had it thoroughly renovated in 1989. In 1996 further interior work followed and, together with the Heimatverein (local heritage association) der Börde Sittensen e.V., the crafts museum was set up; its exhibition opened on June 6, 1998. It conveys the history of the Börde Sittensen and of regional crafts.

The permanent exhibition shows 18 crafts typical of a Börde village, from apothecary to carpenter, in faithfully staged workshops. Visitors can write with quill and ink themselves, plane wood in the joinery workshop, and see the technology of the more than 400-year-old mill. In the museum forge, a wheelwright and a blacksmith present their trades, and volunteer smiths demonstrate their craft.

Highlights

• Staged workshops for 18 crafts from apothecary to carpenter
• Technology of the more than 400-year-old water mill
• Museum forge with demonstrations
• Hands-on stations (writing with quill and ink, planing)
• Weaving courses and craft days

Permanent exhibitions

• Handwerkermuseum in der Wassermühle – Faithfully staged workshops of the apothecary, hairdresser, shoemaker, joiner, and many other crafts, plus the technology of the historic water mill.
• Museumsschmiede – In the former barn, the wheelwright and the blacksmith present their trades; volunteer smiths demonstrate their craft during performances.

Founded

1998

Operated by

Gemeinde Sittensen und Heimatverein der Börde Sittensen e.V.

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

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

The path to the museum is unevenly paved. For wheelchair users, only the ground floor of the mill is accessible; the permanent exhibition and the former milling floor can only be reached by stairs. The museum forge is wheelchair-accessible.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

Hands-on activities are welcome (writing with quill and ink, planing). During the Lower Saxony Easter, summer, and autumn school holidays, hands-on programs for children are held regularly; schools and kindergartens can book programs.

Getting there & parking

The museum is in the former old town center of Sittensen, directly on the Oste and the market square, not far from the St. Dionysius church.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Weddings / ceremonies

The water mill has a wedding room for civil marriages in a historic setting (booking through the Standesamt of the Samtgemeinde Sittensen).

Plan your visit