Waldmuseum Wingst
Interactive forest museum in a former 1826 school building in Wingst, with 23 stations on animals and plants, open on Sundays from May to September.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Waldmuseum Wingst is housed in a thatched building from 1826 that was originally built as a school. For about 50 years (according to the Naturschutzstiftung, since 1966), the house has been informing visitors about the forest habitat and aims to foster understanding for a protective approach to nature.
After a redesign, the museum reopened. The Förderverein Waldmuseum Wingst e.V., founded in 2011, is the museum's sponsoring body: it guides visitors through the house and takes care of its operation. Across about 75 square meters, 23 stations show which animals and plants live in the forest and what traces they leave. Hands-on activities such as the rolling cuckoo game, the dark night forest and the Dachs-WG (badger shared house) appeal above all to children of primary school age.
Outside, a museum garden with games, forest plants and the old legends of Wingst – such as those about the giant Wingis – complements the offering. The tree education trail and guided excursions into the Wingst forest also start from here.
Highlights
- 23 exhibition stations on the animals and plants of the forest
- Hands-on activities: night forest, rolling cuckoo game and Dachs-WG
- Former school building from 1826 with a thatched roof
- Museum garden with forest legends of Wingst and a picnic shelter
- Starting point of the tree education trail in Wingst
Permanent exhibition
- Waldmuseum Wingst – Entdecke den Wald – At 23 stations, visitors playfully get to know the animals and plants of the forest, from the night forest to the Dachs-WG (badger shared house).
- Founded
- 1966
- Operated by
- Förderverein Waldmuseum Wingst e.V.
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €3 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | €2Children and young people. |
| Groups (15+ people) | –Flat rate of €30 for groups of 15 or more (maximum 26 people). |
| Families | €8 |
| Guided tour (approx. 1.5 hours, admission included) | €50For groups of up to 26 people. |
Free admission: May 1, 11:00–15:00: free admission for everyone.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Family ticket | €8 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
- Hands-on stations
The exhibition is aimed especially at children of primary school age and lower-secondary pupils; in the museum garden there are games and activities centered on the forest.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Bahnhof Wingst · 10-min walk · 1 km
Regional train Hamburg–Cuxhaven (hourly) to Wingst station; from there about 1 km, or a 10-minute walk via Molkereistraße.
By car
Free parking · 500 m to the entrance
Free parking at the Wingster Waldzoo (about 500 m); access to the museum itself is restricted.
From Hamburg via the B 73 (2nd exit Wingst); from Bremen via the A 27 and B 73 (3rd exit Wingst). In the village, follow the signs to "Wingster Zoo" and "Jugendherberge" (youth hostel); opposite the pharmacy, turn right to the museum.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
In the museum garden, a picnic shelter invites visitors to picnic.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 1.5 hrs |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Guided tours (about 1.5 hours) on the themes "Tiere unserer Heimat" (Animals of Our Homeland) and "Tiere & Pflanzen" (Animals & Plants) for grades 1–4, plus guided forest walks (1–2 hours, e.g. on the tree education trail). For reasons of space, the museum only admits groups of up to 26 people; registration with the Tourismuszentrale Wingst at least one week in advance. |
