Haus Elsfleth
House of the Schiffahrtsmuseum Unterweser in the Elsfleth Villa Steenken on 20th-century shipping – with a ship simulator.
About the museum
The villa on Weserstraße was built in 1907 as a captain's house in the regional style of an "Oldenburger Hundehütte" (Oldenburg doghouse): a one-and-a-half-story, gable-fronted plastered building with a carved gable that is now a listed monument. It later belonged to the district physician Dr. Christian Steenken, who also headed the Elsflether Heringsfischerei-Gesellschaft (herring fishing company); hence the name Villa Steenken.
On March 14, 2010, the Schiffahrtsmuseum der oldenburgischen Unterweser opened its third house here, alongside Haus Borgstede & Becker and the Telegraph in Brake. A shipowner from Elsfleth made the building available. While the Brake houses deal mainly with earlier eras, Haus Elsfleth is devoted to maritime development along the Lower Weser in the 20th century.
The exhibition looks at the port and town of Elsfleth, the region's shipping companies, herring fishing with luggers, and the nautical training that has made Elsfleth the largest maritime training center in Germany. Further topics are shipyards on the Lower Weser, women at sea, and the chronometer maker Wempe, which has its roots in Elsfleth. An exceptionally extensive collection of boatbuilding tools, media stations, and a ship bridge simulator complement the tour.
Highlights
- Ship simulator: steer a ship yourself
- Extensive collection of boatbuilding tools
- History of herring fishing and shipping companies
- Presentation on the chronometer maker Wempe
- Listed captain's villa from 1907 with museum garden
Permanent exhibitions
- Maritime Unterweser im 20. Jahrhundert – The exhibition shows the port and city history of Elsfleth, shipping companies, herring fishing, shipyards, and nautical training on the Lower Weser, complemented by boatbuilding tools, media stations, and a ship simulator.
- Founded
- 2010
- Operated by
- Schiffahrtsmuseum der oldenburgischen Unterweser e.V.
- Director
- Dr. Christine Keitsch
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €5 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €2Children and pupils up to age 18 |
| Children & teens | €2free up to age 5 · Children up to age 6 free; children and pupils up to age 18 €2. |
| Groups (6+ people) | €4 per personPer person from six people (combination ticket €8). |
| Families | €102 adults with children up to age 18 (combination ticket €20). |
| Combination ticket for all three houses (adults) | €10Also valid for Haus Borgstede & Becker and Telegraph in Brake; children/pupils €4, families €20, groups €8 per person |
| Tour (up to 15 people) | €35Plus admission, by arrangement |
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
Step-free access; the elevator to all floors is reached via the museum garden – please register in advance on 04404 988742 so the team can help with access. Wheelchair-accessible restroom on the first floor. Assistance dogs permitted upon presentation of ID at the information desk.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 5 |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | €10 · 2 adults with children up to age 18 (combination ticket €20). |
- Family tours & workshops
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Hands-on stations
Children up to age 6 free. At the ship simulator, visitors can steer a ship themselves. Children's tours (60–90 minutes), museum scavenger hunt with question sheets, during holidays puzzle sheets and craft activities such as ship-in-a-bottle building (with registration), as well as family festivals in the museum garden.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Peterstraße
Regio-S-Bahn RS4 from the direction of Bremen to Elsfleth station (approx. 35 minutes from Bremen); bus 460 from the direction of Oldenburg to the stop Peterstraße (approx. 50 minutes from Oldenburg).
By car
Parking available
Parking directly at the house; the city of Elsfleth's motorhome parking area is right next to the museum.
By car via the B212.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
Museum shop with regional and maritime products, accessible without admission.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Weddings / ceremonies
Civil weddings in various rooms of the house (additional cost €150); appointment via the Standesamt Elsfleth (registry office).
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | General and themed tours for groups of up to 15 people by arrangement (contact for tours: 04401 6791, borgstede@schiffahrtsmuseum-unterweser.de). Educational activities for school classes and youth groups of about 90 minutes, e.g., on shipbuilding, chart and compass, sails and rigging, or ship-in-a-bottle building. |
