LWL-Museum Zeche Hannover

About the museum

Zeche Hannover was founded in 1857 on farmland near Hordel and named after the home of its founder, Carl Hostmann: the Kingdom of Hanover. In 1872 the Essen industrialist Alfred Krupp bought the mine to supply coal to his cast steel works; by 1908 it had been expanded into a large colliery. In 1877 a Koepe drive pulley was used at the shaft for the first time instead of a winding drum, a hoisting system that became established in deep mining worldwide. For its workforce, Krupp had the garden-city colony Dahlhauser Heide built from 1907, with 339 semi-detached houses.

Hannover was the last mine in Bochum to close, in 1973; the operating buildings were demolished in 1979. Only the oldest structures survived: the Malakow tower with the engine hall and the mine ventilation building. In 1981 the Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe (LWL, regional association) took over the site for its industrial museum and had it restored; since 1995 the monument has been open to visitors. Three settlement houses from the 1890s on Rübenkamp also belong to the museum.

Today the museum shows the tower and the engine hall, and the historic steam winding engine runs during guided tours. A trail across the site tells the story of 150 years of migration to the Ruhr region, a sound installation fills the Malakow tower, and in the Zeche Knirps children's mine, children learn how a mine operates.

Highlights

• Malakow tower from 1857 with elevator and engine hall
• Historic steam winding engine from 1893, in operation during guided tours
• "Wege der Migration" trail in twelve chapters
• Zeche Knirps children's mine with conveyor belt and mine-cart tracks
• Sound installation "Singing Machine" in the Malakow tower
• Free admission, free guided tours on Sundays and public holidays

Permanent exhibitions

• Wege der Migration – A permanent trail across the mine grounds tells, in twelve chapters with picture-and-text panels, the story of migration to the Ruhr region since the 19th century.
• Singing Machine – An eleven-channel sound installation by Zorka Wollny in the Malakow tower explores the influence of migration on the music culture of the Ruhr region and can be heard every hour during opening hours.
• Malakowturm und Maschinenhalle – The oldest building ensemble of the mine, with the 1893 winding engine, where Koepe hoisting technology is explained.

Operated by

Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe (LWL)

Director

Carolin Freitag (Museumsleiterin)

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission is free. Zeche Knirps is also free of charge.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials
• Audio description: no information

Certified under "Reisen für Alle" (Travel for All). Two accessible parking spaces directly in front of the entrance. The Malakow tower can be reached step-free by elevator; the same elevator and a ramp lead to the engine hall. The gallery of the Malakow tower is not accessible. A tactile site model is available, and easy-read short guides can be borrowed at the ticket desk. Tours can be adapted to individual needs (request at least four weeks in advance).

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Playground / play area
• Kids’ birthday parties

The Zeche Knirps children's mine (season hours: Saturdays 14:00–18:00, Sundays and public holidays 11:00–18:00; free admission, under museum education supervision) has underground and surface areas, a conveyor belt, mine-cart tracks and a winding engine. The treasure chamber of the mountain spirit Flözian is aimed at the youngest visitors. Children's birthday parties are only possible as part of a booked program; there are separate programs for schools and daycare centers.

Getting there & parking

By car via the A 40 (exit Bochum-Hamme) or the A 43 (exit Herne-Eickel) to Günnigfelder Straße. Cyclists can find the mine at junction 47 (Bochum-Hordel) on radrevier.ruhr, near the Erzbahn rail trail.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Drink and snack vending machines are available on weekends and public holidays; you may picnic with your own food on the open areas. Museum shop with Ruhr region literature and souvenirs (no debit card payment).

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit