Kranichhaus - Museum des alten Landes Hadeln

About the museum

The Kranichhaus is one of the most important listed buildings on the left bank of the Lower Elbe. Its oldest parts, massive ceiling beams above the ground floor, date from 1583/84. Around 1735 a five-story granary was added to the front house, testifying to the former prosperity of the Land Hadeln. The house took on its present form from about 1760 under Elisabeth Radiek, who ran the spice, salt and wine trade for four decades. She had the Baroque brick façade, the stucco ceilings inside and the first crane (Kranich) on the ridge installed, as a symbol of diligence and vigilance.

In the granary extension of the Kranichhaus, Hinrich Wilhelm Kopf opened Lower Saxony’s first district archive in 1948; the archive of the Cuxhaven district is still based here today, but it is not part of the museum tour and has its own opening hours (visits by registration only). The museum itself opened in the Kranichhaus in 1964; it goes back to a collection assembled since the 1920s. From 1997 to 2000 the building was completely renovated. The museum is run by the Cuxhaven district, supported by the Kranichhaus-Gesellschaft, founded in 1957, which has more than 300 members and offers lectures and excursions throughout the year.

The focus is on small-town domestic culture in the Elbe marshes, above all in the Land Hadeln with its main town Otterndorf; the exhibition is spread over four floors. Particular weight lies on the collection of rare Otterndorf silver (Korpussilber): in the 18th century Otterndorf produced Peter Meyer and Peter Nicolaus Meyer, two goldsmiths counted among the best in Europe. Since 1995 the museum has been able to acquire numerous pieces. A second collection focus is fine art with regional motifs from roughly 1895 to 1935.

Highlights

• Baroque merchant's house with stucco ceilings and a granary from about 1735
• Small-town domestic culture of the Elbe marshes on four floors
• Collection of Otterndorf silver
• Fine art with regional motifs from the period around 1895 to 1935
• Free admission, free audio guide

Permanent exhibitions

• Kulturgeschichte des Landes Hadeln – Cultural history of the historic Land Hadeln with its main town Otterndorf, focusing on small-town domestic culture in the Elbe marshes.
• Otterndorfer Silber – Cups, jugs, boxes, and spoons by Otterndorf goldsmiths of the 17th to 19th centuries, including works by the masters Peter Meyer and Peter Nicolaus Meyer.

Founded

1964

Operated by

Landkreis Cuxhaven

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission for adults as well as children and young people is free.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• 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 museum is not barrier-free; the exhibition extends over four floors.

Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

Holiday project "Museumsdetektive" (Museum Detectives) for children aged 6 to 11, in cooperation with the Museum gegenstandsfreier Kunst and the district archive.

Getting there & parking

Visitor address: Reichenstraße 3. Postal and parcel address: Marktstraße 2, 21762 Otterndorf. The house is located in the historic old town.

Amenities & dining

• Café: not available
• Restaurant: not available
• Museum shop

Small antiquarian bookshop with mostly regional history literature, plus postcards and art prints. No catering of its own; cafés and restaurants are nearby.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit