Front-door Station @museum.de

Hello, and welcome to Steinhude!

Have you already taken a stroll along the Steinhuder Meer -- a lake that thinks it’s a sea? Or gone on a longer walk to the Alte Moorhütte with its observation tower and restaurant? And perhaps eaten a roll filled with some of our delicious local fish? Every day, our quiet town attracts holidaymakers to the region.

Around 100 years ago, it all looked very different. Even then, a few holidaymakers came to unwind near the largest lake in Lower Saxony; but Steinhude was one thing above all: an important location for the weaving and leather industries, with a long tradition.

Have you noticed the blue sign on the gable of the redbrick house? It commemorates the weavers' guild that was established on that spot back in 1728 and held its meetings there.

The history of the weaving trade in Steinhude goes back many hundreds of years. Along with fishing, it was the local people’s main occupation. Agriculture in the area surrounding Steinhude was never very productive, given the sandy soil and the moors. On the other hand, flax is undemanding. And so the people of Steinhude started to grow flax and work as linen weavers. The number of home-based handloom weavers steadily grew.

By the 19th century, Steinhude had become an important industrial location. Major weaving mills developed from those early beginnings. New jobs were created, and more and more people settled here. But the development also had its downside. Due to the constant growth and increasing mechanization at the mills, there was a serious housing shortage. The authorities tried to deal with the problem by compelling the locals to take lodgers and by building modest municipal housing.

Housed in an old half-timbered house, Steinhude’s Fishing and Weaving Museum looks back at the lives of local people in days gone by. Why not drop in – we’re at Number 8, Neuer Winkel, and we look forward to your visit.
Opening hours from May to October are
Tuesday to Saturday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and
Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
In March, April and November, the museum is only open at weekends and on public holidays.
Opening hours are 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.