Stadthafen 1 or Münster Harbor is the city's inland harbor and is located not far from the central train station. It branches off the Dortmund-Ems Canal and was originally a classic harbor for handling goods. Today it is a well-known recreational and leisure area, popular with locals and visitors alike.

On the north shore is the so-called "Kreativkai", where you can enjoy food and drinks as well as the view and atmosphere of the harbor in restaurants and bars. If you are interested in art, then you can see national and international contemporary art at the Kunsthalle. On the south side of the harbor, you can not only see stage plays at the Wolfgang Borchert Theater, but also learn more about the individual works away from the performance. In the neighborhood is the Hafenkäserei, where you can take guided tours to learn how cheese is made (pictured below).

The port was opened in 1899 by German Emperor Wilhelm II after four years of construction. It was primarily designed for the import of grain, on which the cattle farmers in the Münsterland region depended. As a result, it became one of the most important grain handling hubs in northwestern Germany. The city of Münster also benefited from the fact that industrial companies settled at the port.

During the First World War, the volume of goods handled fell sharply due to blockades of other ports. Grain transport recovered after the war, but slumped again due to the Great Depression beginning in the late 1920s. After the National Socialists seized power, building materials were then mainly shipped for the construction of Wehrmacht buildings.

During the Second World War, the city port was severely damaged. The fact that there was nevertheless cargo handling until 1944 can only be explained with the use of forced laborers for production and clean-up work. After the war, the port was quickly rebuilt because it was urgently needed for the import of building materials for the reconstruction of Münster.

Today, the port has become almost insignificant as a goods transshipment point. That's why a concept for a public communication and media center was proposed for it in the 1990s. The goal was to find a mixture of cultural use, gastronomy and services with remaining trades. This idea did not succeed, but its name "Kreativkai" is still used today.

Since 2001, the "Hafenfest" has been held once a year at the harbor. On three days there are a lot of offers for young and old on and at the water, music and gastronomy. So if you're into water fun like flyboards and stand-up paddling and music of various genres, the Hafenfest is the place to be.


You can find out more about the Hafenfest on this page at Münster Sights.

The Kunsthalle is presented to you on this page at Münster Sights.

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​Further information:

• Website Münster Hafenfest (website only available in German)