This house in Marktstraße 12 is just one of many pittoresque facades in Otterndorf. A lovely town house, which has become witness to over 200 years of history.
It was built in 1782, when a king still ruled in France, the German emperor resided in Vienna, the young USA was fighting for its independence from Great Britain and Napoleon had not even started his triumphal march through Europe. And it is exactly the old flair that you are going to experience as soon as you step inside this house.
König and Wernecke, Heubach, Kestner, Käthe Kruse and Schildkröt are only some of the many dolls that have given joy to the children with whom they have shared some of the magic moments of their childhood. Inside the building, you can marvel at dolls, stuffed animals, doll carriages and cradles, toy shops, doll houses and many other exhibits. Every single toy takes the visitors back to their own childhood, which in some cases could be already 100 years ago! More than 1000 items are presented on a floor area of 165 square metres.
Everything started with Margarete Roering, who collected dolls, stuffed animals and toys over decades out of fun and passion until those items had become an immense collection. In 2000, she gave her treasure to the city of Otterndorf as a donation. It did not take a long time to find interested and dedicated volunteers who were willing to supervise the “Puppenstube Otterndorf“ or “Dollhouse Otterndorf”. A large part of the dolls and stuffed animals is from the past 50 years, but the collection also consists of valuable rarities, which were donated by other passionate collectors. The highlights of the exhibition are six great doll houses, one handmade piece with original furniture among them, which was created in 1898.
Nowadays the members of Puppenstube Otterndorf Society volunteer to take care of the doll museum and its collection.