Heritage Open Days: Maritime heritage sites in the north invite you to visit

This coming Sunday, 13 August 2026, more than 6,500 monuments across the country will once again open their doors to visitors with an interest in history and technology. On Open Monument Day, the range of sites on display extends from historic buildings to former industrial sites and even vehicles. There is also plenty to see in the maritime sector once again. You can find some of the many highlights in the north here:

Lower Saxony

In Carolinensiel, all three historic museum buildings surrounding the museum harbour will be taking part in the event from 6 pm to midnight. Carolinensieler Museum Night section (German Siel Harbour Museum, Groot Hus, Am Hafen Ost 8, Wittmund). Also the Peat Shipyard in Worpswede, where peat barges were built for a century from 1850 onwards (Schlußdorfer Str. 22, Worpswede).

In Buxtehude, there are sailing commercial vessels from the turn of the 19th to the 20th century, such as the cargo barge “Margareta” (1897, moored between Westfleth 11 and Ostfleth 10, Buxtehude) and the herring lugger “AE7” in Emden (1908, mooring: Am Delft, Emden).

​Bremen

In Bremerhaven, numerous museum ships are open to the public as part of the ‘Open Ship’ event, some of which are offering special programmes. In Bremerhaven, for example, the “Training Ship Deutschland” (1927, moored at the New Harbour), the steam icebreaker “Whale” (1938, moored at the Columbus Quay) and the side-trawler “Gera” the GDR deep-sea fishing fleet (1959, berth: Fischkai, Am Schaufenster). In addition, there is the German Maritime Museum with the lightship “Elbe 3” (Hans-Scharoun-Platz 1).

In Bremen, the Seefahrt House, Europe’s oldest social welfare foundation, dating from 1545 (Seefahrtstr. 25), has opened its doors, just like the Overseas Museum (Bahnhofsplatz 13), whose collection was made possible by Bremen’s global trade links. Moored on the River Weser is the experimental sea-rescue cruiser “Bremen” (1931, moored at: Museumshaven Vegesack / Zum Alten Speicher) is open to visitors. His design was groundbreaking for the development of this type of vessel.

Schleswig-Holstein

Flensburg showcases its maritime heritage with the Mürwik Naval College (1910, Kelmstr. 14, Flensburg), the silos and storehouses at the East Harbour (Ballastkai 10a, Flensburg) and on the Museum Shipyard (Schiffbrücke 44, Flensburg). Also at the Open Ship event on the city’s floating landmark, the saloon steamer “Alexandra” (1908, mooring: Schiffbrücke, Flensburg).

The light vessel is in Lübeck “Fehmarn Belt” there (mooring: An der Untertrave 25, Lübeck). Another exceptional stop is on the Kiel Canal, which Rendsburg Railway Viaduct (1913, Fährstr., Osterrönfeld).

Hamburg

There are also numerous participants in Open Monument Day on and along the River Elbe. These include the light vessel “Elbe 3”) (1888, Neumühlen pontoon in Neumühlen), the lower light of the Wittenbergen Beacon the Wittenbergen–Tinsdal beacon line (1900, Rissener Ufer), the fish-cooling and transport vessel “Stubnitz” (1964, Kirchenpauerkai 29) and the survey steamer “Schaarhörn” (1908, Berth: Bremer Kai in Hansahafen, Australiastr.).

Numerous museums are also taking part with special programmes, such as the International Maritime Museum (Kaispeicher B, Koreastr. 1), the German Port Museum (Schuppen 50a, Australiastr.) and the Speicherstadt Museum (36 Sandtorkai).

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania

In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, you can learn more about maritime history in Rostock, for one thing at the fishing port on the one hand, the former fish markets of the GDR’s deep-sea fishing industry (Alter Hafen Nord 216, Rostock), and on the other hand, on the The historic ship MS ‘Dresden’, which houses the Rostock Maritime Museum (Schmarl-Dorf 40, Rostock). In Kühlungsborn, the Baltic Sea Border Tower Museum has opened, documenting the GDR’s border system along the Baltic Sea and stories of escape (Strandpromenade 2a, Kühlungsborn)

A complete overview of all participating monuments and any conditions for visiting them – such as advance booking in some cases – can be found on the official Website for Open Monuments Day.