1577 That’s the year inscribed on the Altes Zollamt’s portal. This isn’t just any building. It’s Bremen’s oldest surviving official building after the Rathaus. Right here before you stands a piece of Bremen’s history.
Imagine the bustling activity centuries ago. Merchants would have arrived at the Altes Zollamt their goods ready for inspection. The Ochtum River once marked the boundary between Bremen and the County of Delmenhorst. A toll was collected here. The Altes Zollamt was the place to pay it.
The Altes Zollamt was more than just a customs house. It served as a vital link in Bremen’s trade. The building’s history is rich. It has stood witness to centuries of commerce and change. Its core structure dates back to the Renaissance. However two later timber-framed extensions were added around 1800. A flat extension around 1900 housed a tavern. For a time it was known as the “Storchennest” or Stork’s Nest. Storks used to nest on its roof until World War II.
The Altes Zollamt’s architecture is impressive. It’s a two-story brick building. It features a steep gabled roof and dormer windows. Hochrechteckige windows and a magnificent round-arched portal are key features. Lion heads and a triangular gable with the Bremen coat of arms adorn the building. These details reflect its official status. The inscription “Zum Warturm Storchennest” and wrought-iron house numbers hint at its more recent past as a tavern. The northern timber-framed extension has two stories. The southern one is single-storied. The largest addition a street-facing single-story structure from around 1900 provides a column-free interior.
In 2019 the Deutsche Stiftung Denkmalschutz funded renovations. They repaired the timber framing on the south side of the northern annex. This beautiful structure has been saved for future generations. In more recent times the Altes Zollamt gained new life. It became home to the Musikszene Bremen. This organisation provides rehearsal spaces and hosts concerts. Since 2008 the Altes Zollamt has been a hub for Bremen’s musical scene hosting the Übersee-Festival. Today it continues to thrive as a cultural center. Its future is secure thanks to a long-term lease. The building stands as a testament to Bremen’s rich history. It also shows the city’s commitment to supporting its arts and culture. The Altes Zollamt’s story is far from over.