Thieles Garten

About the museum

The brothers Gustav and Georg Thiele came from a family of boatmen in Butjadingen and first worked as photographers. In 1923, they acquired a moorland plot of about 6,000 square meters in Leherheide that was originally meant for farming. Instead, starting in the mid-1920s, Gustav in particular – a sculptor with no academic training – transformed the site into an imaginative garden landscape. He made his often life-size figures inexpensively from cement over frames of wire and bricks. Georg painted landscapes and portraits; his wife, the painter Grete Itzen, whom he married in 1929, modeled for many of the sculptures.

Alongside ponds and native and exotic trees and shrubs, a Moorish-style house and a moorland cottage (Moorkate), used as a studio and guesthouse, were built. Over time, the property grew to almost two hectares. After the brothers died, Grete Thiele closed the garden to the public, and the grounds fell increasingly into disrepair.

In 1985, the City of Bremerhaven bought the site, which had already been zoned for development; a friends' association was formed to restore the garden and figures together with the city parks department. Since 1990, the grounds have again been used for concerts, readings and exhibitions, and paintings and sculptures are displayed in the former house. In 2010, the garden was listed as a historic monument, and in 2019 it received the Bremer Denkmalpflegepreis (Bremen Heritage Conservation Award). Since April 2026, the garden has been closed until further notice due to staffing shortages at the city; events by the friends' association continue to take place.

Highlights

• Life-size concrete figures by Gustav Thiele, such as wrestlers, dancers and Pan
• Restored fountain "Geburt der Venus" (Birth of Venus)
• Moorish-style house and moorland cottage
• Ponds and old trees, some of them exotic
• Gallery with paintings and sculptures in the former house

Permanent exhibitions

• Galerie im Künstlerhaus – Paintings and a few sculptures are on display in the artist family's former Moorish-style house; currently accessible only during events and special openings.

Operated by

Stadt Bremerhaven (Gartenbauamt) mit dem Förderverein Thieles Garten e.V.

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

The garden itself is free. Concerts and readings by the friends' association usually cost €15 (reservation and advance bank transfer required); the seasonal walks are free.

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

Dogs are not allowed in the garden. No information on accessibility is available.

Kids & families

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

Getting there & parking

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

Amenities & dining

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

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

The pavilion with covered terrace and the pergola can be rented for family celebrations, holiday parties and meetings (€450, from January 1, 2027: €500). Civil weddings by arrangement with the Bremerhaven registry office (Standesamt); catering through a partner company.

Plan your visit