Kehdinger Küstenschiffahrts-Museum

About the museum

The museum was founded in 1994 from a private initiative of volunteer shipping enthusiasts and is still run by a friends' association today. It occupies a historic grain warehouse behind the Elbe dike in Wischhafen, a place that was long an important base for coastal shipping in Kehdingen. Warehouse, tidal harbor, and museum ship are all listed as protected monuments.

The first floor deals with shipbuilding and the development of coastal vessels from the small Ewer (a traditional sailing barge) to the motorized freighter, complemented by tools, engines, navigation and radio equipment, as well as fishing and sea rescue. The second floor is devoted to everyday life on board: a full-size wheelhouse, galley, mess, and crew cabin convey how cramped and hard the crews' lives were.

The largest exhibit is the coastal motor vessel "Iris-Jörg". She was launched in 1956 at the Nobiskrug shipyard in Rendsburg as the "Eilenburg", later sailed as the "Seestern", and received her present name in 1965. In 2002 the municipality of Wischhafen bought the ship and made it available to the museum; volunteers restored it painstakingly over the following years. The cargo hold, engine room, cabins, and bridge can be visited.

Highlights

• Coastal motor vessel "Iris-Jörg" from 1956, open to walk through
• Listed warehouse and tidal harbor
• Full-size wheelhouse with galley and crew cabin
• Ship models from Ewer to coaster
• Kehdinger Matrosenpatent (sailor's certificate) for children

Permanent exhibitions

• Küstenschifffahrt in Kehdingen – Two floors in the old warehouse show shipbuilding, ship types, and technology of coastal shipping, as well as life on board with a reconstructed wheelhouse, galley, and mess.
• Museumsschiff „Iris-Jörg“ – The coastal motor vessel built in 1956 lies in the tidal harbor next to the museum; the cargo hold, engine room, cabins, and bridge can be visited.

Founded

1994

Operated by

Freunde des Kehdinger Küstenschiffahrts-Museum e. V.

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Hands-on stations

Museum education department with interactive stations; children can earn the "Kehdinger Matrosenpatent" (Kehdingen sailor's certificate).

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Plan your visit