WasserFest — Where Water Writes History

Water — the forgotten raw material of industrial history

When people talk about the Ruhr area as an industrial region, most think of coal and steel. But without water, not a single furnace would have functioned. Water cooled the blast furnace, powered machines, served as a transport route, and was an energy source. On Saturday, June 27, 2026, from 6:00 PM, the LWL-Industrial Museum Henrichshütte Hattingen is dedicating an entire themed evening to this central element: WasserFest — Where Water Writes History.

As part of ExtraSchicht

WasserFest is part of ExtraSchicht — The Night of Industrial Culture, the major annual night event that presents around 50 industrial monuments in the Ruhr area at the end of June with special openings, light installations, music performances, and special programs. Henrichshütte has been one of the central ExtraSchicht venues for years — anyone who has experienced the steel casting plant illuminated will not forget it quickly.

Henrichshütte — A Site of Industrial Culture

The Henrichshütte in Hattingen was an integrated ironworks with a blast furnace, steelworks, and rolling mills from 1854 to 1987. Today, as the LWL-Industrial Museum, it is a central site on the Route of Industrial Heritage in the Ruhr area. Blast Furnace 3 — visible from afar above the Ruhr valley — is the site's landmark (currently closed for renovation, but the blower hall and the casting plant remain accessible).

Program 2026 (Highlights)

• Special guided tours on the water history of Henrichshütte
• Performances centered around the element of water
• Musical and performative accompanying programs
• Furnace open late into the night
• On-site catering

The detailed program will be published by the LWL shortly before the date.

Hattingen and the Southern Ruhr Area

Hattingen (around 55,000 inhabitants) is located in the Ennepe-Ruhr district in the southern Ruhr area, on the Ruhr River. The town has a historic old town center with half-timbered houses and is one of the most charming towns in the Ruhr area. The Henrichshütte is located slightly outside the old town in the district of Welper. For those planning a day trip: Old town in the morning, Henrichshütte Museum in the afternoon, WasserFest in the evening — a perfect cultural weekend.

Route of Industrial Heritage

The Route of Industrial Heritage is a tourist network of industrial monuments and museums in the Ruhr area. Henrichshütte is one of the anchor points. Other well-known stations include the Zollverein Colliery (Essen), the Gasometer (Oberhausen), or the Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord. ExtraSchicht is the annual major event of this network.