Discover the Water Sports Museum: A historical gem in Grünau!

Discover the Water Sports Museum: A historical gem in Grünau!

The newly opened is located in the southeast of Berlin, on the former Olympic site from 1936 Water sports museum in Grünau. The museum, dedicated to the rich history of water sports in Berlin and Brandenburg, has been open to visitors again since April 2024 and offers an informative and interactive journey through the development of water sports, particularly rowing.

The director of the museum, Veronika Springmann, has redesigned the water sports museum, which is part of the Berlin Sports Museum, with a lot of commitment. Particularly noteworthy is the sailmaker's glove, which is presented as the central object of the exhibition in a glass display case. This glove protects the palm of your hand and prevents injuries when sewing canvas. Unfortunately, it cannot be touched, but this does not apply to many other exhibits that invite you to touch it.

The roots of water sports in Berlin

The history of water sports in Berlin is deeply rooted. It began in 1835 with a group of yachtsmen and led to the founding of the first rowing clubs on the Dahme and Spree rivers. The first regatta from Bammelecke to Köpenick took place in 1868. The first rowing club was founded in 1876, and by 1925 over 100 rowing clubs were based in Berlin.

The regatta course in Grünau, one of the city's oldest sports venues, is considered a unique regatta center in Germany with over six runways in a natural body of water. Kaiser Wilhelm I was a big supporter of rowing because he saw the connection between water sports and the navy. This history is comprehensively discussed in the water sports museum, including the dark times of National Socialism. The exhibition presents the history of workers' clubs and Jewish rowing clubs that were dissolved by the Nazis.

Accessible experience and interactive exhibitions

The museum is designed to be barrier-free and offers a guidance system for the blind, sound installations and texts in simple language. A particular highlight is a tactile model of a boathouse, which gives visitors a better understanding of traditional boat building. Thematic tours and workshops are offered for schools and clubs to interactively convey knowledge about water sports.

The permanent exhibition entitled "Water. Sport. Grünau." not only shows historical boats, tools and photographs, but also medals from the time of Kaiser Wilhelm I and insights into the development of boating technology and water sports clubs.

The opening hours of the water sports museum are Wednesday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free, which is another argument for a visit. There is also an audio guide entitled “Boats, Messengers and Cups” that sheds more light on the outside area of ​​the regatta course.

The museum's impressive collection was originally initiated by teacher Werner Philipp in the 1980s and is now an indispensable institution documenting the history of water sports in Berlin. After a comprehensive renovation that kept the museum closed between 2016 and 2024, the exhibition now shines in new splendor and awaits visitors with a holistic approach to the history of rowing.