Museum Alte Ziegelei Westerholt

About the museum

In the early 19th century, rich clay deposits were discovered in Westerholt. The village blacksmith and farmer Diedrich Teebken bought a plot in 1824, applied in 1845 for permission to build a brickworks and made the necessary equipment himself. Initially bricks were made by hand, mainly during the firing season from April to October, with traveling brickmakers from Lippe.

In 1925 a Hoffmann ring kiln replaced the old kiln; it remains the heart of the complex to this day. With larger drying sheds, scaffolding and rail wagons, the brickworks could then produce about one million bricks per season. After the Second World War, production continued with an electric motor until 1966, when it was decided not to build a tunnel kiln and to stop production.

When demolition was requested in 1990, residents founded the Förderverein Alte Ziegelei Westerholt (friends' association), which restored the site and opened it to the public. Today the volunteer-run museum leads through five stations covering clay extraction, preparation, shaping, drying and firing, and offers guided tours, lectures, film evenings and art events.

Highlights

• Hoffmann ring kiln from 1925
• Five stations from clay to fired brick
• Old machine house and drying shed
• Guided tours, lectures and art at the Alte Ziegelei
• Admission free

Permanent exhibition

• Ringofenziegelei und Ziegeleimuseum – Ring kiln, machine house and drying shed show in five stations how clay becomes brick.

Operated by

Alte Ziegelei Westerholt e.V.

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission free; the volunteer-run museum welcomes donations.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide

The website has games and puzzles for children.

Getting there & parking

By car via the A 29, exit Wardenburg (No. 18), through Oberlethe and along Ammerländer Straße toward the Küstenkanal; after about 1 km turn right into Ziegeleiweg. By bike from Wardenburg about 4 km (approx. 15 minutes), from Oldenburg about 11 km (approx. 40 minutes).

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Weddings / ceremonies

Up to 50 guests.

The brickworks is a branch of the Wardenburg registry office; weddings with up to 50 guests are possible. The museum is less suitable for wedding celebrations with music and dancing.

Plan your visit