Literature museum in the former manor estate Haus Nottbeck near Oelde: Westphalia's literary history from the Middle Ages to today, pay-as-you-wish admission.
December 12, 2026 – February 14, 2027
The exhibition asks how Westphalian authors have perceived and portrayed melancholy, which regional peculiarities and typical images exist, and how feelings of powerlessness and loss of meaning can be overcome.
October 3, 2026 – March 7, 2027
Outdoor exhibition on the work of the author and visual artist from Clarholz, who combines Low German dialect poetry with visual poetry; in cooperation with the Rottendorf-Stiftung.
August 29, 2026 – November 15, 2026
Multimedia works by an artist couple: the centrepiece is the installation “Hier bin ich” with five speaking matryoshka figures, supplemented by video works in the literature museum, projections in the garden house and sound islands in the outdoor area.
The Museum für Westfälische Literatur (museum of Westphalian literature) is part of the cultural heritage site Haus Nottbeck on the edge of the Oelde district of Stromberg. It uses the listed buildings of a former manor estate whose origins as a moated castle reach back to the 14th century; the estate is first mentioned in documents in 1366.
The museum opened in 2001. It received funding from the Kreis Warendorf, the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, the NRW-Stiftung and the Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe; it is scientifically supported by the Literaturkommission für Westfalen. The cultural heritage site is operated by Kulturgut Haus Nottbeck GmbH, whose main shareholder is the Kreis Warendorf.
Since 2018 the permanent exhibition has been presented in a new, multimedia design with an expanded range of topics. Staging rather than mere book display is at the center: Westphalia's literary history is told from the Middle Ages into the 21st century, supplemented by listening islands and sound art in the park.
| Audio guide (German/English) | €2 |
|---|---|
| Public guided tour (irregular, on weekends) | €3Meeting point at the museum office; no registration required. |
| Group tour (flat fee, up to 25 people) | €40Plus admission at a self-chosen price; advance registration required. |
Visitors determine the admission price themselves (pay what you want).
Exhibition rooms are accessible without steps, partly via ramps; accessible elevator available. Two accessible parking spaces in the car park in front of the grounds; drop-off directly in front of the museum after registering by phone (02529 9497900). Audio descriptions are offered via app. The audio guide can also be used on your own smartphone or on loan devices; the event hall has an induction loop for hearing aids.
Great for kids & families
Museum rally with ten puzzles for children and families, creative workshops and workshops under “Bücherbande” (Book Gang) for children.
Parking available
Parking lot in front of the grounds with two accessible parking spaces.
Navigation address: Landrat-Predeick-Allee 1, 59302 Oelde (Stromberg).
Get directionsCafé on the grounds (Sat, Sun and public holidays 12:00–18:00).
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes (DE, EN) |
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Group tours by registration (museum@kulturgut-nottbeck.de); school classes also in the morning. Museum rally with ten tasks for self-discovery. |
