Museum Moorseer Mühle

About the museum

Windmill sails have been turning on the Moorseer Mühlenplatz near Abbehausen for around 300 years. The first post mill burned down in 1854; a gallery windmill was built in its place and was partly renewed after another fire in 1903. Besides milling, the miller families ran pig fattening, a bakery, a tavern, and a haulage business in order to have income outside the harvest season as well.

When the last miller, Heinrich Reinken, stopped in 1977, Moorsee was the last working mill operation in the Wesermarsch district. The district then made the site a museum, because besides the working mill, the residence, stables, and farm buildings had also been preserved; in 1978 an agricultural museum opened first. In 1991 a new building was constructed, and in 1993 the specialized museum for the milling history of the Wesermarsch opened. Since 1998, the Rüstringer Heimatbund (local heritage association) has looked after the museum on behalf of the district.

Visitors can see the mill with two millstone pairs and original machinery, the roughly 300-year-old miller's house with the furnishings of the last miller family, an exhibition on the mill landscape of the Wesermarsch with a millwright's workshop, the exhibition "Moorsee. Mehr als Mehl und Mühle" (Moorsee. More than Flour and Mill) in the old granary, and a general store from Stollhamm. On the outdoor grounds, a Fluttermühle (a small drainage windmill), a horse-gin house, demonstration beds, sheep, and bees add to the experience.

Highlights

• Fully working gallery windmill, in operation on Fridays when windy
• Roughly 300-year-old miller's house with original furnishings
• Historic demonstration bakery with mill bread
• General store from Stollhamm
• Mill sheep, mill bees, and a replica of a Fluttermühle

Permanent exhibitions

• Mühlenlandschaft Wesermarsch – Exhibition in the main building on the wind and water mills of the Wesermarsch with models, a millwright's workshop, and a hands-on children's museum.
• Moorsee. Mehr als Mehl und Mühle – In the old granary, four themed islands show the side occupations of the miller families; next door stands a rebuilt general store from Stollhamm.
• Müllerhaus – The oldest building on the site, with uncovered wall paintings, fabric wallpaper, and the furnishings of the last miller family, the Reinkens.

Founded

1978

Operated by

Landkreis Wesermarsch; Betrieb durch den Rüstringer Heimatbund e. V.

Director

Gesche Neumann

Admission & discounts

School classes €2 per child, supervisors free. With the Gästekarte Butjadingen (guest card), €0.50 off the tours; for 6- to 17-year-olds they are then free of charge.

Accessibility

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

Accessible restroom in the new building. The stairs in the mill are very steep. The parking lot is across a busy road.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Baby changing facilities
• Playground / play area

Free children's rally with the mill pig Kuffi, small hands-on children's museum, baking in the demonstration bakery, and sheep to pet. Sandbox, play meadow, and climbing frame. In the mill and miller's house, do not leave children unsupervised.

Getting there & parking

By car via the B212 to Ellwürden, then on the L860 (Butjadinger Straße) toward Abbehausen; the museum is just beyond the village. By bike from Nordenham via the "Alter Bahndamm" path (approx. 5 km).

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Museum shop with books, mill honey, noodles, cold drinks, and cookies; picnic area with terrace, food you bring yourself may be eaten outside. Fresh mill bread on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 12:00. Dogs on a leash are welcome on the grounds and in the exhibitions.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Weddings / ceremonies

Up to 10 guests.

Civil wedding ceremonies in the "Gute Stube" (parlor) of the miller's house for up to 10 guests plus the couple (fee €100); dates are assigned by the Nordenham registry office. Group programs and baking events can also be booked for family celebrations and company outings.

Plan your visit