Museum Helgoland

About the museum

As early as 1897, it was decided on Helgoland to found a museum, which opened in 1899 in the Konversationshaus. It was made possible by a foundation of the heirs of the naturalist Nathanael Pringsheim, and the operator was the Königliche Biologische Anstalt. The foundation was the bird specimens of the ornithologist Heinrich Gätke and the institute's algae collection, so that the museum was initially oriented toward natural history. In a heavy air raid in October 1944, this North Sea museum was largely destroyed.

To take up the old tradition, the state of Schleswig-Holstein, the district of Pinneberg, the municipality of Helgoland, and the friends' association founded the Stiftung Nordseemuseum Helgoland in 1986. After a collection was rebuilt, today's museum opened in 1996 in the Nordseehalle in the Nordostgelände. Its focus is now on cultural history and art: the permanent exhibition tells how the island passed from Danish through British rule to Prussia in 1890 and what upheavals this meant for its residents.

Since 2006, an outdoor area with replica Hummerbuden (lobster sheds) has been growing in front of the museum. It deals, among other things, with the children's book author James Krüss, postal history, the photographer Franz Schensky, sea rescue, and the seaside resort ferry service; a lighthouse replica and a model of a large British bomb were added. The museum also includes the civil defense bunker in the Oberland (Upper Town), which can be visited on guided tours, and a secured tunnel in the Unterland with an exhibition on fortress, war, and reconstruction in the 20th century.

Highlights

• Permanent exhibition on the history of Helgoland between Danish, British, and German times
• Museum courtyard with replica Hummerbuden and lighthouse
• Hummerbude on the children's book author James Krüss
• Guided tours of the civil defense bunker in the Oberland
• Bunker tunnel in the Unterland on fortress and war history

Permanent exhibitions

• Geschichte der Hochseeinsel Helgoland – The permanent exhibition in the Nordseehalle traces how the island changed hands between Denmark, Great Britain, and Prussia, and connects the big history with the life stories of the Helgolanders.
• Museumshof mit Hummerbuden – Replica Hummerbuden are devoted to James Krüss, postal history, the photographer Franz Schensky, sea rescue, and the seaside resort ferry service; in addition there are a lighthouse replica and the model of an aerial bomb.
• Bunkerstollen im Unterland – In a secured tunnel almost 200 meters long, panels, animations, and objects tell of the high-sea fortress, bunker construction, forced labor, bombing, and reconstruction of Helgoland.

Operated by

Stiftung Nordseemuseum Helgoland

Director

Simone Arnhold

Admission & discounts

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• 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 grounds are not accessible in all areas.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Getting there & parking

The museum is located in the "Nordseehalle" on the island's Nordostgelände, level with the utility works; in front of it is the museum courtyard. The bunker tunnel is in the Unterland at the elevator to the Oberland.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Weddings / ceremonies

Weddings are possible on the museum grounds.

Plan your visit