Theater ship Batavia in Wedel: More money for culture in the harbor!

Theater ship Batavia in Wedel: More money for culture in the harbor!

Those responsible in Wedel have taken a really good step: the theater ship “Batavia” receives annual funding of 16,000 euros. This is what the council meeting decided on November 14, 2025. NDR reports that This amount will be increased by 4,000 euros compared to the previous funding. A condition for the funds is the holding of at least 45 events per year, although council chairman Julian Fresch (CDU) assures that the theater ship offers more events anyway.

The “Batavia”, a 30 meter long and 100 year old ship, is not only a historical jewel, but also a lively place for culture and exchange. Cabaret festivals, open-air cinema performances, concerts, theater performances and readings take place on the ship, many of them in Low German. The event options are extensive and range from cool live jazz evenings to meaningful author readings.

Unique atmosphere on the Batavia

The “Batavia” is not only a place for performances, it also has a rustic restaurant in the upper nave, which is open daily from 6 p.m. and on Sundays even welcomes guests from 3 p.m. Here, guests can enjoy freshly tapped beers, garlic bread and fried potatoes - a perfect complement to the cultural experiences on board. In summer, the beer garden invites you to linger and enjoy, while the open-air cinema performances in July and August enchant audiences under the slogan “100,000-star cinema”.

Hannes Grabau, who owns the ship today, ensures that the “Batavia” remains lively as an event location, especially in the winter months. Live music, theater performances and even Christmas fairy tales always take place there. The culinary offerings are also impressive: mulled wine, egg grog and hot lilac berry juice are on the winter menu to sweeten the cold days. According to the Batavia website The room in the lower hull offers space for around 70 people and therefore an intimate setting for all performances.

A nostalgic contemporary witness

The “Batavia” has an eventful history and was used as a theater for many years. It is an attractive starting point for excursions into the beautiful surroundings of Wedel. This region is easily accessible for hikers, cyclists and inline skaters via the Brooksdamm and the Auehafen and leads into the landscape protection area, which offers visitors many opportunities to enjoy nature.

Wedel has lost numerous historic buildings throughout history, particularly during World War II. With the support and cultural work on the “Batavia” a piece of this liveliness that has been lost will be brought back. The balancing act between tradition and modernity is wonderfully showcased here and is a real benefit for the community.