Beidenfleth: Stör Ferry and Camera History

Beidenfleth combines visible traces of marsh drainage with a long history of crossings over the Stör. It is also home to a camera museum in the old schoolhouse and St. Nicolai, with medieval and Baroque artworks. The river, cycling route and culture offer several clear ways to explore the town—giving you the opportunity to choose the focus of your trip with care.

Ditches, the Stör and routes through the marsh

Drainage ditches and canals are clearly visible in Beidenfleth; many are laid out at right angles. Many of these ditches and canals date back to drainage works begun by Dutch settlers in the 12th century. Their right-angle layout makes the flow of water visible in the landscape and gives the marsh a tangible historical connection.

Since 1620, a ferry at Beidenfleth has crossed the Stör, connecting the Wilstermarsch with the Krempermarsch; cyclists use the crossing too. On Stage 5 of the Monks’ Way, the Else cable ferry connects Beidenfleth and Bahrenfleth across the river. The Beidenfleth canoe launch near the ferry provides access to the Stör. The Störterrassen by the Beidenfleth ferry are a place to stop and rest. Located right on the Stör, they offer views of the water and the Else ferry.

The 46-kilometre Störtörn 1 follows the Stör dike to Beidenfleth, linking the Stör landscape with dike paths and open marshland. If you are planning a ferry crossing or a cycling trip, check the timetable and current route beforehand.

Camera history in the old schoolhouse

The Beidenfleth Camera Museum is housed in the old schoolhouse and takes visitors through the history and development of cameras in chronological order. Exhibits include series by German camera manufacturers, rare individual pieces and accessories, as well as historic glass negatives, advertising items and spring-driven movie cameras. Its collection covers around 26,500 different camera models from manufacturers around the world. Of a total collection of 8,700 cameras, 5,800 individual pieces are on display; collection figures may change over time.

St. Nicolai: architectural and art history

The foundations of St. Nicolai date back to the 12th century or, at the latest, the 13th century; the church was first documented in 1325. The Baroque altar was created in 1636/37 by Hamburg sculptor Hein Baxmann. The bronze baptismal font, dating from 1340, is the church’s oldest work of art. According to local tradition, the freestanding bell tower was first built in 1557. It has been restored several times and completely rebuilt in 1860. Together, these dates reveal the church’s different historical layers.

Plan your stay around your interests

When looking for accommodation in Beidenfleth, you can start by weighing up what you would like to focus on: do you want your trip to centre more on the Stör and cycling route, or on the camera collection and church history? If you are travelling with people who have different interests, you can use these themes as a shared basis for planning.

For the broader travel overview: Wilster.