Historic Thatched-Roof House in Molfsee Open-Air Museum Completely Destroyed by Fire

The destroyed building is the so-called "Haus von Bergenhusen," a thatched-roof house constructed in 1765 that was already a reconstruction of a predecessor building destroyed by lightning in 1690. The house originally stood in Bergenhusen directly next to the church and was — like other structures in the museum — dismantled at its original location and reassembled in Molfsee. It was adorned with numerous carvings and inscriptions, including a gable inscription referring to the new building in 1765.

Museum curator Nils Kagel described the loss as severe. "Es war eines unserer wertvolleren Exponat-Häuser, wir müssen erstmal sehen, wie wir damit umgehen," he said. Regarding the significance of the building, Kagel said: "Allein der wissenschaftlich-kulturelle Wert ist sehr hoch." A spokeswoman for the Schleswig-Holstein State Museums also confirmed the historical background.

Reactions from the Museum

Comparable buildings hardly exist anymore, Kagel said with regard to the existing stock of similar houses in the region. The curator also pointed to a particular twist in the story: "Es hat schon eine gewisse Ironie," he said, noting that the house has now once again — like its predecessor — been destroyed by lightning. Unlike other thatched-roof houses in the museum, the building did not have a lightning rod, according to him.

At the time of the fire, there was no exhibition in the house, and the Molfsee Open-Air Museum remained closed on the day of the fire. Firefighting and overhaul operations continued; the gable of the destroyed building is to be secured. The exact amount of damage cannot yet be quantified, Kagel said. The police also initially provided no information on the total losses; investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing.

Stapelholm Barn as the Most Valuable Building

Kagel also expressed relief that the flames had not spread to the neighboring building, located only some 15 meters away. This building is the Stapelholm barn, which according to the curator is considered the museum's most valuable structure and dates to the year 1550. It once belonged to one of the largest farmsteads in the Stapelholm region.

According to Kagel, the Haus von Bergenhusen sits in a depression surrounded by higher-lying trees and houses. A resident reported the fire in the early morning. Kagel emphasized that the incident underscores the importance of fire protection in museums.

Investigations and Extent of Damage Remain Open

The Molfsee Open-Air Museum is one of the well-known open-air museums in Schleswig-Holstein and houses historic buildings from the region. With the complete loss of the Haus von Bergenhusen, a rare witness to the region's architectural culture has been lost, the reconstruction of which — according to the curator's assessment — is currently uncertain.