Do you see this unassuming plaque? It marks the spot of Thyens Schloss. Let me tell you about Oltmann Thyen and his grand vision.
Oltmann Thyen was a prominent Bremen-Oldenburg merchant and shipowner. Born in 1821 he made his mark on the region. Thyen founded the shipping company O. Thyen in 1851. That same year he married Maria S. R. Wilkens. She was the daughter of Bremen merchant Georg Wilkens.
In 1854 the full-rigged ship O. Thyen was launched. It was built by the Behrens shipyard. In 1856 the ship was sold. The buyer was the Oldenburg Rhederei-Gesellschaft. In 1867 Thyen’s shipping company in Bremen bought the ship back. By then Thyen had also become the Grand Ducal Oldenburg consul. He resided at Schlachte 38.
But Thyens Schloss? That came later in 1883. Thyen purchased a large meadow. It was located on the outskirts of Blumenthal/Unterweser. He had a castle built there for sixty thousand gold marks. It was built in the historicism style with a staircase. Imagine that a grand castle here near Bremen. Thyens Schloss had a legendary reputation. Sadly it was torn down after a fire in 1962.
Thyen had five children. His daughters were Mimi Dora and Elisabeth. His sons were Oskar and Herrmann. Oskar owned a cigar factory in Holland. Herrmann managed a porcelain factory in Weimar. He was also a landowner in the Uckermark.
This plaque is all that remains of Thyens Schloss. It reminds us of Oltmann Thyen’s ambition and legacy. A successful businessman who left his mark on Bremen. His story connects shipping trade and a now lost castle. Take a moment to remember Oltmann Thyen. Remember his impact on Bremen’s history.