Windstärke 10 – Wrack- und Fischereimuseum Cuxhaven

About the museum

"Windstärke 10" (Wind Force 10) combines two former Cuxhaven museums. The municipal Wrackmuseum (wreck museum), which grew out of a private collection, had been housed since 1980 in a former school in Stickenbüttel. The Fischereimuseum (fishing museum) was founded in 2003 by the Förderverein Schifffahrtsgeschichte Cuxhaven in Fish Packing Hall VII; many members still knew the Great Deep-Sea Fishery and the pilot service from their own experience and ran the museum as volunteers until 2011.

In 2006 the city council decided to bring both collections together at a shared location in the harbor area. The historic Fish Packing Halls VII and VIII together with the Ohlroggestraße between them were chosen. Supergelb Architekten from Cologne converted the brick halls and connected them with a new building; the covered, slightly curved street now serves as an exhibition hall more than 80 meters long. The project was financed in part with EU funds. The museum opened in December 2013 – on the first regular opening day, Storm "Xaver" swept over the city. Holdings of the former Stadtmuseum Cuxhaven have also been incorporated.

On more than 2,000 square meters, the exhibition tells, with films, listening stations, and stagings, of shipwrecks such as that of the "Cimbria," of the hard daily life on fishing steamers in the North Atlantic, of fish processing, the pilot service, and today's maritime hazard response. Overfishing and sustainable fishing are also addressed.

Highlights

• Spare propeller of the emigrant ship Cimbria
• Stagings of shipwrecks in the German Bight
• Life and work aboard the fishing steamers
• Originally preserved cold storage cell in the historic fish hall
• Hands-on stations and play area for children

Permanent exhibitions

• Schiffsuntergänge in der Deutschen Bucht – Listening stations, films, and stagings depict maritime emergencies such as the stranding of the "Luise Leonhardt" and the sinking of the "Cimbria" as well as today's sea rescue.
• Große Hochseefischerei ab Cuxhaven – This area shows the hard life on fishing steamers in the North Atlantic, fish processing onshore, and questions of sustainable fishing.
• Lotsenraum – The pilot service, which has been based in Cuxhaven since the Middle Ages, is presented with the historic furniture from the meeting room of the Elbe pilots; on training days the room remains closed.

Founded

2013

Operated by

Stadt Cuxhaven (Fachbereich Museen und Stadtarchäologie)

Admission & discounts

Special exhibitions are included in admission. The ticket is valid as a day pass, and the visit can be interrupted.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

All exhibition rooms are at ground level and have sufficiently wide doors. Designated accessible parking spaces at the museum. Assistance dogs are allowed.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Baby changing facilities
• Playground / play area
• Kids’ birthday parties

Children aged 6 and over receive a free "Seefahrtsbuch" (seafarer's book) as a rally with the mascot "Otto der Dampfer" (Otto the Steamer), younger children a stamp card. Hands-on stations for knot tying or trying on a diving helmet, play area with explorer submarine, octopus reading corner, and painting corner for daycare and elementary school children. Children's birthday parties with scavenger hunt or ship-in-a-bottle crafting. Bicycle trailers converted into strollers are not allowed in the exhibition.

Getting there & parking

By car, from the roundabout at the end of the A 27 follow the "Windstärke 10" signs, past the Fischmeile.

Amenities & dining

• Café: not available
• Restaurant: not available
• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Lockers

No café; a large table in the foyer is available for food you bring yourself. Museum shop with maritime souvenirs and books. Coat check and lockers – larger bags and backpacks must be locked away.

Events & venue rental

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

Plan your visit