Kohlosseum
Cabbage museum in a former sugar and sauerkraut factory in Wesselburen – on the cultivation and processing of cabbage in Dithmarschen, with a sauerkraut workshop.
About the museum
The Kohlosseum stands on the site of a sugar factory that the merchant Charles de Vos had built in 1869 after test fields in the Dithmarschen marsh had yielded particularly sugar-rich beets. When beet growing no longer paid off toward the end of the 19th century, many farmers switched to cabbage; the Wesselburen gardener Eduard Lass promoted large-scale cultivation and marketing of industrial cabbage. Later the region's largest sauerkraut factory operated here.
On the initiative of Martin Kehl, Achim Krumbiegel and Hubert Nickels, a friends' association was founded which, with sponsors and funds from the BINGO environmental lottery, converted the third floor of the old factory from 2005. The cabbage museum officially opened in December 2007, a monument to Eduard Lass was added in 2012, and in the same year the museum was admitted to the Museumslandschaft Dithmarschen (Dithmarschen museum network).
The exhibition under old wooden beams shows planting machines, farm tools, cutting knives and sauerkraut barrels, explains the soils, drainage and dikes of the marsh, and recalls the storm surge of 1962. The eye-catcher is a replica of a cabbage-cutting line from the Marne sauerkraut factory Gravenhorst, which was in operation until 1984. On the first floor, the sauerkraut workshop and farmers' market complement the museum.
Highlights
- Replica of the cabbage-cutting line of the Gravenhorst sauerkraut factory
- Historic farm machinery and equipment for cabbage growing
- Demonstration and tasting in the sauerkraut workshop
- Tours with stories in Low German
- Free admission
Permanent exhibitions
- Kohlmuseum – Permanent exhibition on cabbage cultivation and processing, marsh soils, dikes and village life in Dithmarschen, with historic machines and a replica cabbage-cutting line.
- Founded
- 2007
- Operated by
- Kohlosseum GmbH; Förderverein Kohlosseum
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
| Adults | free |
|---|
Museum admission free, donations welcome. Museum tours €2 per person (please register at the farmers' market).
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- Elevator
- 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 museum is on the third floor and can also be reached by elevator.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Amenities & dining
- Museum shop
Farmers' market with homemade sauerkraut, cabbage salads, regional foods, gift items and cabbage-based care products; products also available in the online shop.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Tours for all age groups by arrangement, often with anecdotes in Low German. Travel and school groups please register in advance; for groups there is a program of sauerkraut workshop with tasting, museum tour and farmers' market. For school classes, the tours also cover nutrition and agriculture. |
