Situated on the picturesque shores of the North Sea, the German town of Wilhelmshaven is known for its maritime heritage and picturesque coastal scenery. The town’s historic location as a naval base during World War II is evident in its historic attractions. The Naval Museum, housed in the former Kaiserliche Werft (Imperial Dockyard), showcases Wilhelmshaven’s maritime history through an impressive collection of naval artifacts.
The UNESCO-listed Wadden Sea National Park, with its diverse birdlife and incredible landscapes, attracts nature lovers. Strolling along the promenade, you can feast your eyes on the peaceful beauty of the North Sea and admire the panoramic views of the passing ships.
The Coastal Museum invites you to delve into the city’s maritime heritage and learn about the life of local fishermen through traditional fishing boats, fishing equipment and exhibitions. Wilhelmshaven is famous for its fresh seafood, especially the delicious North Sea prawns. The seafood restaurants dotted along the harbour invite you to sample some of the local delicacies. For those seeking relaxation and renewal, Wilhelmshaven offers relaxing spas and wellness centres.
Location
Wilhelmshaven it’s a city and port, Lower Saxony Land northwestern Germany. It lies on Jade Bay (Jadebusen), a North Sea inlet on the coast of East Friesland (Ostfriesland).
Südstrand
Südstrand (South Beach) with breathtaking views of Jade Bay, it’s the perfect place to relax. With its cozy hotels and restaurants, attractions, and activities, it’s a popular destination all year round. During the bathing season from May to September, colorful beach chairs dominate the landscape of the south beach and the bathing beach just offshore.
Lake Bant
Lake Bant (Banter See) is an artificial lake in the North Sea port city of Wilhelmshaven. It is about 2.6 kilometers long and 0.5 kilometers wide. It used to contain naval facilities, including a submarine base. Now separated from the port, it is used mainly for recreation and research. It is surrounded by parkland, recreational facilities, up-market housing, research institutes and company offices.
Deutsches Marinemuseum Wilhelmshaven
The German Naval Museum in Wilhelmshaven presents the development of the German Navy since 1848. The museum focuses on the presentation of the Federal Navy/German Navy. The museum fits perfectly into the Wilhelmshaven naval city port. A characteristic feature is the guided missile destroyer “Mölders” moored at the museum pier. Two other large exhibits, the mine-hunting boat “Weilheim” and the submarine “U10”, also attract attention on closer inspection.
On the other hand, the “Starfighter” F-104 G, which seems to hover over the entrance to the museum. Many modern visitors to the museum no longer know that the naval aviators used around 120 of these machines as fighter bombers between 1963 and 1981 – which were also ridiculed as “coffin fighters” due to the extremely high number of accidents.
UNESCO-Weltnaturerbe Wattenmeer Besucherzentrum Wilhelmshaven
The Wadden Sea Visitor Center on Wilhelmshaven’s south beach presents the Wadden Sea World Heritage Site as a unique habitat – both in the water, on land, and in the air – on three floors and over 2,000 square meters. Experience and discover this fascinating world through interactive media, large-format photos, films, and audio stations in our completely renovated exhibition.
Kaiser Wilhelm Bridge
Kaiser-Wilhelm-Brücke is a historic swing bridge which has become the landmark for the whole of the town of Wilhelmshave. It was the longest swing bridge in all of Europe in 1907, when it was completed. The national monument underwent restoration recently, and was also decorated with festive lighting, making for a great picture opportunity.
Küstenmuseum Wilhelmshaven
Exciting stories about storm surges, dike workers, chieftains, pirates, ships, emperors, and the history of the city of Wilhelmshaven can be discovered at the Coastal Museum. The unconventionally designed, family-friendly exhibition features interactive stations, a play ship with a quayside market, and an archaeological research laboratory, inviting visitors to try things out and get involved.
Wasserturm Wilhelmshaven
The Wilhelmshaven town hall tower is called a water tower because it houses a 950 m3 tank. This provided water pressure in the water supply network until the 1990s. Although this function is no longer needed today, the building is a landmark of the port city.
Bunker Museum Wilhelmshaven
This bunker provided shelter to civilians and workers during Allied air raids and bombings during World War II. The bunker is now a small museum and guided tours are available.
Aquarium Wilhelmshaven incl. Prehistoric Sea Museum
Immerse yourself in the Wilhelmshaven Aquarium and embark on an exciting journey through time – from prehistoric times to the present day. Gigantic sea dinosaurs from the oceans of yesteryear await you in a new, magnificent adventure exhibition. The tallest ones reach up to 10.5 metres.
