Naturkundliches Museum Wilster

About the museum

The museum is housed in the half-timbered warehouse behind Wilster's Old Town Hall, built in 1585. Goods were once stored here; the warehouse stood on an arm of the Au that is now piped underground, where ships were loaded and unloaded with a crane.

In 1982, the Naturschutzbund Wilstermarsch and the hunters of the Hegering Wilstermarsch set up a natural history local museum in the warehouse and ran it on a volunteer basis for decades. After the building was renovated in 1997, it reopened, and in 2006 the converted attic was added. In 2017 the building was repaired again, and in 2018 numerous specimens were refreshed. On September 1, 2018, the Förderverein Historische Rathäuser in Wilster (friends' association) took over as operator; the Hegering remained involved.

After the small museum could for a time only be visited by appointment, it relaunched in summer 2024 with new volunteers and has had regular opening dates since then. On three floors, recreated habitats show birds and mammals of the marsh – from barnacle geese, bitterns and buzzards to a fox family and roe deer – plus insect cases and a collection of over a hundred bird eggs. Most recently, an insect hotel was added outdoors.

Highlights

• Recreated habitats of the Wilstermarsch on three floors
• Half-timbered warehouse at the Old Town Hall from 1585
• Over 100 bird eggs from the chiffchaff to the ostrich
• Animal pelts for children to touch
• Insect hotel outdoors

Permanent exhibitions

• Tier- und Pflanzenwelt der Wilstermarsch – On three floors, recreated habitats show native birds and mammals of the marsh, complemented by insect cases and a large bird egg collection.

Founded

1982

Operated by

Förderverein Historische Rathäuser in Wilster e.V.

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Donations are welcome.

Accessibility

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

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Hands-on stations

Children may touch various animal pelts; kindergarten and elementary school groups regularly come for guided tours.

Getting there & parking

The warehouse is in the town center behind the Old Town Hall, at the corner of Op de Göten/Schmiedestraße.

Amenities & dining

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

Events & venue rental

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

Plan your visit