Deutsches Schifffahrtsmuseum Bremerhaven (DSM)

Understanding the world from the sea—that is the mission of the German Maritime Museum (DSM) / Leibniz Institute for Maritime History in Bremerhaven. 

How does a ship float? How is it constructed? What are the different parts of a ship? How does a ship interact with the sea? And how do research vessels gather knowledge from the sea? The new permanent exhibition “Worlds of Ships – The Ocean and Us” in the Bangert Building of the German Maritime Museum (DSM) / Leibniz Institute for Maritime History provides the answers. After about two years of construction, the 2,800-square-meter exhibition invites visitors to discover ships and their stories, learn about the forces of the sea, and see how to navigate them.

Across five thematic areas—from “Shipbuilding” to “Ships and Physics” to “Research Voyages” — 2,000 historical exhibits spanning two centuries invite visitors to experience the development and technology of shipping up close. Many of these treasures are on display for the first time. A special highlight is a 34-meter-long interactive installation that invites visitors to participate and marvel.

Don’t miss the legendary Bremen cog from 1380! Immerse yourself in the fascinating history of this globally unique medieval merchant ship, considered the best-preserved of its kind. Learn how this wreck was salvaged and meticulously preserved, and discover more about life during the Hanseatic era. Regularly changing special exhibitions round out your visit and continually offer new insights.

Your museum ticket grants you access to all exhibitions—including the historic ships at the Museum Harbor. Here you’ll find the harbor tug “Stier," the whaler "Rau IX" and the deep-sea salvage tug "Seefalke" are waiting to be discovered by you. From mid-March through the end of October, you can come aboard and experience real maritime history.
Please note: The "Rau IX" is temporarily moored at Neuen Hafen, near German Emigration Center.

Especially for School Groups

The German Maritime Museum is a versatile extracurricular learning destination for students of all ages. Here, the relationship between humans and the sea is conveyed in a vivid and tangible way—from historical developments to current issues surrounding the environment, research, and maritime technologies.

The museum’s educational programs are closely aligned with school curricula and link topics such as shipbuilding, navigation, and the use of the ocean to subjects like history, natural sciences, and geography. The focus is on active participation, independent discovery, and creative learning. This turns a visit to the museum into an interactive experience where knowledge is not only imparted but also experienced in a lasting way.