Museum Nordenham

About the museum

The Museum Nordenham is housed in a listed school building on Hansingstraße, built in 1892 as an elementary school in the late Neoclassical style. After the Second World War it served as Grundschule Süd until 1964 and was then used for a time by the Gymnasium before being converted for museum purposes in 1977. Since then the building has been renovated several times; in front of the entrance stands the lantern of the former Einswarden upper lighthouse from 1896.

The museum is run by the Rüstringer Heimatbund. The permanent exhibition, whose redesign was supported by the State of Lower Saxony and the city of Nordenham, among others, leads in chronological order through the development of the town on the left bank of the Weser: from early settlement by the Chauci and Frisians through diking and land reclamation to the founding of the port in the mid-19th century, livestock export to England, the era as an emigrant port, industry, fishing and shipbuilding, the Second World War, and the postwar period. A staged ship that seems to sail out of the room stands for the town's close ties to the water and at the same time carries archaeological finds from about 5,000 years.

Among the best-known pieces are two versions of the "Bruderkussbild" (Fraternal Kiss painting) by Hugo Zieger, on loan from the Lübben family. A short introductory film presents the town's founder Wilhelm Müller, and since 2019 a permanent exhibition of its own has been devoted to the Nordenham painter Emy Rogge. The museum holds the museum quality seal for Lower Saxony and Bremen; civil wedding ceremonies take place in the furnished Frisian Room.

Highlights

• Two versions of the "Bruderkussbild" by Hugo Zieger
• Ship staging with archaeological finds from about 5,000 years
• Introductory film about the town's founder Wilhelm Müller
• Permanent exhibition on the painter Emy Rogge
• Frisian Room in the style of the early 19th century

Operated by

Rüstringer Heimatbund e. V.

Director

Dr. Lars Kröger

Admission & discounts

School classes and kindergarten groups €1.50 per child, educational supervision €20 per group; discovery tour for youth groups €2.50 per person. Audio guides free of charge.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• 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

Accessible entrance, elevator, and wheelchair-accessible restroom; offerings for people with visual impairments and seating in the exhibition.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Baby changing facilities

Family ticket with discovery booklet; discovery tour with quiz questions for children's and youth groups as well as programs for kindergartens and school classes. Models and display pieces are also vivid for children.

Getting there & parking

The museum is located in the historic school building on Hansingstraße, about a five-minute walk south of the market square.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Events & venue rental

• Weddings / ceremonies

Civil wedding ceremonies in the furnished Frisian Room; dates through the Nordenham registry office (tel. 04731 84224).

Plan your visit