Hans-Momsen-Haus

About the museum

The Hallig house on the Gabrielswarft in Fahretoft, a district of Dagebüll, was built in 1712 and is considered the oldest residential house in the village. Hans Momsen was born here in 1735; as a farmer's son without higher schooling, he taught himself mathematics, astronomy, optics, navigation and several foreign languages. He worked as a dike reeve, including on the diking of the Juliane-Marien-Koog in 1777, and in his workshop in the garden he made surveying instruments, telescopes, clocks and even an organ. Momsen died in Fahretoft in 1811.

The local historian Hans Werner Paulsen campaigned for many years for the preservation of the listed house. On his initiative the Hans-Momsen-Gesellschaft was founded in 2007; in 2010 it acquired the building with donations and a great deal of its own labour and then restored it extensively, including a new thatched roof. On 11 July 2015 the house was ceremonially opened as a museum and meeting place.

Today the volunteer-run house commemorates Momsen's life and work. The museum includes a café with hand-painted tiles modelled on historical examples and a terrace overlooking the North Frisian marshland; drinks and cake are offered in return for a donation. Concerts and other events occasionally take place.

Highlights

• Birthplace of the polymath Hans Momsen (1735–1811)
• Oldest residential house in Fahretoft (1712) on the Gabrielswarft
• Café with hand-painted tiles modelled on old patterns
• Warft terrace with a view of the North Frisian landscape
• Film about Hans Momsen as mathematician and land surveyor

Permanent exhibition

• Leben und Werk von Hans Momsen – The restored house commemorates the Fahretoft mathematician, astronomer, instrument maker and dike reeve Hans Momsen and rural life in North Frisia.

Founded

2015

Operated by

Hans-Momsen-Gesellschaft e. V.

Admission & discounts

There are no fixed prices in the café; coffee, drinks and cake are paid for with a donation.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The house stands on the Gabrielswarft opposite St. Laurentius Church in Fahretoft (municipality of Dagebüll).

Amenities & dining

• Café

Café in the house (run by volunteers, payment by donation) with a terrace behind the house; home-baked tarts and cakes. A museum guide is available.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit