International Maritime Museum

Overview

The International Maritime Museum Hamburg occupies Kaispeicher B, the oldest warehouse in the Speicherstadt. Over 10 floors, it houses one of the world's most comprehensive private maritime collections — 40,000 ship models, navigational instruments, maritime art, and naval artifacts.

Highlights

• Ship Models: Over 40,000 model ships from ancient galleys to modern container vessels — the world's largest collection.
• Deck 1: A full-scale reconstruction of a 17th-century ship's cabin and an original Type VIIC U-boat periscope.
• Maritime Art: Paintings, cartography, and navigation instruments spanning centuries of seafaring.

History

The museum is based on the personal collection of Peter Tamm, who spent 60 years assembling one of the world's most comprehensive maritime collections. It opened in 2008 in the restored 1879 Kaispeicher B warehouse — the Speicherstadt's oldest surviving structure.

Visitor Tips

• 10 Decks: The museum spans 10 floors — start at the top and work down to manage energy.
• Allow Time: Maritime enthusiasts can spend 3+ hours; general visitors should allow 1.5–2.
• Duration: 1.5–2 hours.