It was actually a very cool and interactive museum. At the entrance, you get an electronic card, which you can then program to determine what language you want. Then you can choose a specific topic, say for example, trade, or medicine, or family traditions. And finally you can choose a particular city in the Hanseatic League. These selections essentially personalise your visit. You then scan this card on milestones along the way, and it provides a personalised explanation about the Hanseatic League as it relates to the topic and location you selected.
The exhibit begins with a visit to the archaeological site. The museum is actually situated on an archaeological site, and therefore the entrance involves some very elaborate set of elevators and tunnels.
The various exhibits showcase the life of people during this period: the ships they used to cross the seas and trade with others; the items they sold and bought; the form of government that they used; and many others. We definitely spent a good two hours here, educating ourselves with what happened during those times. As I have been able to visit other historical Hanseatic cities in the past, it was an interesting visit for me needless to say.
One thing I didn't like about the museum was that it was a little too dark, and a lot of the exhibits relied heavily on text. I remember reading so much, and normally I don't mind this, but this also means that it is slightly perhaps too intellectual to the average visitor. I could imagine children getting too bored with it.
Anyway, for me that was a non-issue. I nevertheless enjoyed my visit, and definitely recommend it to others who might be interested in this history.
After our visit, we went out and found a place to get a late lunch. After that meal, we headed back to our hotel, picked up our luggage, and took the train back to Berlin.
Stay tuned for a different destination next time!
