Marine museum functions in the building of the former fish market in Kiel bay. The permanent exposition presents ship models of different eras and the first German submarine, nautical instruments, sonar and even sailor’s costumes for boys popular in Kiel. One hall holds monumental marine landscapes, the other presents reconstruction of a living room of a ship worker. Veteran ships stand next to the museum: cockboat “Hindenburg”, fire ship “Kiel” and 1905 buoy ship “Bussard”. On the latter you can find the original steam engine and boiler-room.
Acquaintance with the city’s marine history can continue on the observation deck 7 km away from Kiel, in Holtenau. A beautiful view on Kiel Canal (Nord-Ostsee-Kanal) connecting the Baltic Sea with the North Sea opens from here. 60 thousand ships pass through it annually, making it the busiest navigation route in Europe.