Fire, Water, Hammer Blow — LWL Open Air Museum Hagen

Industrial History You Can Touch

The LWL Open Air Museum Hagen is one of the oldest and largest open-air museums in Germany — dedicated to the pre-industrial and early industrial craft and technology history of Westphalia. Over 60 historical buildings and workshops are lined up along the long valley of the Mäckingerbach: blacksmith shops, sawmills, a wire drawing mill, a paper mill, a brewery, residential buildings, and workshops. On the weekend of May 30 and 31, 2026, the museum offers "Fire, Water, Hammer Blow", a themed weekend that brings Westphalian metal processing to life in all its historical facets.

Blacksmiths in Action — The World of Metal Processing

The themed weekend guides visitors through the historical value chain of metal processing — from smelting to forging to fine finishing. Blacksmiths demonstrate the forging of glowing iron with anvil and hammer, wire drawers show the laborious processing of iron into wire in the water-powered wire drawing mill, and in the trip hammer works, you can experience the deafening noise of historical forging hammers. "We invite visitors to experience the world of Westphalian metal processing," emphasizes the museum.

Participate, Don't Just Watch

Unlike traditional museums, the LWL Open Air Museum thrives on active participation: at the hands-on stations, visitors can try their hand at making simple forged items or even making paper using historical techniques. Families with children will find age-appropriate activities throughout the weekend — from introductory blacksmithing sessions to workshops in the paper mill.

Water Power — The Untapped Potential

For centuries, the Mäckingerbach provided the driving force for the workshops in the valley. The water wheels and water power demonstrations show how medieval and early modern industry functioned without electricity — and why Westphalia, with its many streams, was a historical center for metal processing. Solingen blade steel, Hagen hardware, Iserlohn needle manufactories — all have their origins in this hydraulic-mechanical system.

Event Calendar 2026 at the Museum

"Fire, Water, Hammer Blow" is just one of many themed weekends at the LWL Open Air Museum Hagen in 2026: in May, there are also vintage car meetings (May 23/24) and rope-making workshops, early June paper-making and printing days (May 31 – June 1), on June 21 the Steampunk event "Of Smithy Fire and Gears", and from June 22 to 26 the Young Blacksmiths' Meeting, where young blacksmiths from Europe gather. The museum is open from April to October, Tuesday to Saturday 9:00 AM–5:30 PM and Sunday 9:00 AM–6:00 PM (closed Mondays).

LWL Open Air Museum Hagen in the Mäckingerbach Valley

The museum is located in the Mäckingerbach valley on the southern outskirts of Hagen, at the transition to the Sauerland region. With over 60 original buildings and more than 100 workshops, it is one of the most important open-air museums in Germany. It is operated by the Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe (LWL) — the regional municipal self-government institution of Westphalia. The themed weekends are considered didactically exemplary: they make history literally tangible.