Discover the Störtebeker legend: exhibition opens in Rostock!

Discover the Störtebeker legend: exhibition opens in Rostock!

The legend of the infamous pirate Klaus Störtebeker will come to life in a new exhibition at the Kröpeliner Tor in Rostock from July 18, 2025. With the title “Störtebeker in Rostock”, the show is not only presented by students from the History Institute at the University of Rostock, but also led by renowned professors. Prof. Gregor Rohmann and Prof. Oliver Plessow accompanied the seminar group through an extensive research project that illuminates the Störtebeker legend and its diverse aspects.

The students designed the exhibition rooms independently. They have developed an exciting exhibition concept that includes exhibits, information boards and listening stations. This enables an in-depth examination of the figure of Störtebeker, which is now seen as a symbol of maritime violence in Mecklenburg and Pomerania. The opening will take place on July 18, 2025 at 2 p.m. and the exhibition will be open until November 2, 2025. Visitors can come every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (except public holidays); Admission is 3 euros for adults and 2 euros reduced.

Leadership and collaboration

A special highlight are the guided tours, which are conducted by students from the University of Rostock on selected days. These tours are intended to familiarize the citizens of Rostock and beyond with the history of piracy. The event takes place in collaboration with the History Workshop Rostock e.V., which is also dedicated to raising awareness about this exciting era.

Klaus Störtebeker, who lived between 1360 and 1401, is considered the most famous pirate figure in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The privateer's birthplace is disputed, with Wismar being mentioned as a possible location. Together with the Vitalien brothers, he played an important role in the military conflicts between Denmark and Sweden in the 14th century. As early as the 16th century, his legendary story was recorded in a song with 26 verses, which strengthens the cultural heritage surrounding the figure Störtebeker in the region.

Sustainable effects and stagings

Störtebeker is perceived as a privateer and folk hero. Its popularity is further fueled by various artistic representations, such as Reinhard Keizer's 1701 opera and Kurt Barthel's 1959 ballad. The film “12 Meters Without a Head” from 2009 also focuses on his work. In addition, the Störtebeker Festival in Ralswiek has taken place regularly since 1993, based on a long tradition that goes back to the 1950s.

Last year, over 60,000 spectators attended the pirate spectacle, which shows how lively and relevant Störtebeker's history is to this day. In addition, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania staged two productions in 2019 that are based on historical sources and took place in both the Baltic Sea and the Caribbean.

The exhibition “Störtebeker in Rostock” promises to further uncover this fascinating history and give visitors a deep understanding of the region’s maritime past. More information is available on the website University of Rostock, des Rostock Maritime Museum and in the Baltic Sea newspaper.