Seehundstation Norddeich

About the museum

Work with orphaned seals began in 1971 in a small station at the Schwanenteich in Norden. In 1978, the Verein zur Erforschung und Erhaltung des Seehundes (association for the research and conservation of the seal) was founded and in the same year began building a new station in Norddeich; it was inaugurated in 1980 and expanded in several stages until 1992 with a research wing, pools, seminar rooms, and an exhibition hall.

Since 2003, the association has also operated the Nationalpark-Haus. In 2006, it opened the Waloseum in the former transmitter building of Norddeich Radio in Osterloog with its own quarantine station, while the station in Norddeich was rebuilt and officially inaugurated in 2008 as Seehundstation Nationalpark-Haus. In 2012, the rearing facility was completely renewed, and in 2018 a researchers' area was added.

Every year, between 80 and 150 young harbor seals, occasionally also gray seals, are raised here and released back into the wild. Visitors experience the animals at large underwater windows and at feedings; the exhibitions explain the Wadden Sea ecosystem, marine mammals of the North Sea, and research on seals.

Highlights

• Orphaned seal rearing up close
• Feedings daily at 11:00 and 15:00
• Underwater windows and aquariums
• Researchers' area with monitoring simulation and telemetry room
• Audio guide also in a children's and an English version

Permanent exhibitions

• Leben im Wandel der Gezeiten – Introduction to the Wadden Sea National Park with its zones, tidal channels, and typical animal and plant species.
• Meeressäuger – Harbor seals, gray seals, and harbor porpoises of the North Sea, their rearing at the station, and observation at the underwater windows.
• Forscherbereich – Themed rooms on seal monitoring, laboratory, disturbances, offshore wind power, and telemetry to try out yourself.

Operated by

Verein zur Erforschung und Erhaltung des Seehundes e.V.

Director

Dr. Peter Lienau (Geschäftsführer)

Admission & discounts

Tickets online or at the box office (card payment possible; there may be waiting times at the box office). Concessions except for people with severe disabilities only at the box office.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• 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

Checked for accessibility with the "Reisen für Alle" (Travel for All) label. The "Seehund-Info" (seal information) talk is also available in an adapted form for groups of people with disabilities.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations

Child-friendly hands-on exhibitions, children's version of the audio guide, exhibition quiz, and a seal game for 4- to 7-year-olds; holiday and family program in the events calendar.

Getting there & parking

By car via A31 or A28 toward Emden and B72 to Norddeich, at the second roundabout toward Norddeich-West.

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