Zwei-Siele-Museum

Current exhibitions

About the museum

The Museumsverein Dornumersiel was founded in 1978 as a support society, after the state had suggested a sluice harbor museum on the East Frisian coast. When the choice fell on Carolinensiel in 1980, the people of Dornumersiel developed their own local museum on the twin sluice town of Dornumersiel-Westeraccumersiel, focusing on sailing shipping. The association initially received rooms in the Nationalparkhaus and, from 2000, a museum in its extension.

The collection found its present home at Haus Am alten Hafen 1, a captain's house built in 1696, shortly after the harbor was constructed, at the former harbor. The foundation founded by Helga and Karl-Heinz Wiechers acquired the building in 2012, had it restored in keeping with its heritage status, and makes the rooms available to the museum association. After the work was completed in October 2018, the museum opened in April 2019. Particularly worth seeing are Baroque paintings from 1744 on the doors and the surviving furniture from 1700 to 1900.

The exhibition explains why there were two neighboring sluices here, which lie on the former border between East Frisia and Harlingerland, which ships were built, and how people lived from seaborne trade and fishing. On display are, among other things, a re-created captain's apartment, ship models, and objects on the history of the 172 sailing ships that were home port to both harbors in the 18th and 19th centuries. A library on regional and maritime history complements the house.

Highlights

• Captain's house from 1696 as a listed museum building
• Re-created captain's apartment
• Baroque door paintings from 1744
• History of the sluice harbors and sailing shipping
• Museum library on regional history

Permanent exhibition

• Dauerausstellung im Wiechers-Huus – History of the sluice harbors, shipbuilding and the life of the captains, in an original, preserved dike house from 1696.

Operated by

Museumsverein Dornumersiel e. V. (Haus der K.-H.-Wiechers-Stiftung)

Admission & discounts

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• 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

Barrier-free access to the building, barrier-free exhibition and a wheelchair-accessible restroom.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

Children up to age 16 have free admission; the museum offers special programs for children and school classes.

Getting there & parking

The museum is located at the Alter Hafen (old harbor) in Westeraccumersiel, in the center of the twin sluice villages.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Literature on local history and bricks with a sailing ship motif are available in the museum in exchange for a donation.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit