Whispers of emperors and sailors echo around the Matrosenhaus. This historic site was once known as Matrosenstation Kongsnæs. Kongsnæs means King’s Landzunge. It sits gracefully on the Schwanenallee.
Picture Prussian royalty embarking on pleasure cruises. The Matrosenhaus served as their landing station. Wilhelm II commissioned this Norwegian-style complex. Holm Hansen Munthe designed it between 1891 and 1895. Imagine the Ventehalle. This reception pavilion welcomed kings. Picture boathouses housing royal vessels. Three residences housed the dedicated staff.
After World War I, the Hohenzollern family leased Kongsnæs. The Kaiserlicher Yacht-Club enjoyed its use. World War II brought devastation. The reception hall, yacht storage, and an archway were destroyed by fire. Only foundations, a seawall, and residences remained. The Berlin Wall further divided the property. For decades, the lakeside was inaccessible. The houses continued as homes.
The political shift of 1989 spurred restoration efforts. The Förderverein Kongsnæs championed reconstruction. In 2009, Michael Linckersdorff acquired the estate. His mission was to restore the buildings. He also aimed to rebuild the reception hall and harbor. Public access remained a priority.
But let’s step back to its origins. This location’s nautical connection dates back further. Friedrich Wilhelm II and his son enjoyed Pfaueninsel. They traveled the Havel in pleasure boats. Friedrich Wilhelm III received a three-masted ship from England. Later, he received a replica frigate named Royal Louise. These ships were moored at Pfaueninsel.
To expedite royal boating, Friedrich Wilhelm IV bought land. It belonged to the miller Joachim Gustav Craatz. Peter Joseph Lenné finalized the purchase in 1841. The property included a mill house, a residence, and various workshops. The mill had burned down. Its stump was part of the rebuilt house.
In 1842, the house became quarters for Royal Louise’s crew. The term Matrosenstation or Sailor Station gradually became common. Friedrich Wilhelm IV desired a grander Matrosenstation. Architect Ludwig Ferdinand Hesse designed an Italianate complex in 1847. It featured a tower on the mill’s octagonal base. This design was not implemented.
Wilhelm II revived the project decades later. Hofbaurat Franz Haeberlin proposed English Gothic designs in 1888. These too were rejected. Ultimately, Wilhelm II chose Norwegian architecture.
Munthe created a complex. The Ventehalle was built in 1891 and 1892. A long shed for the Alexandria steamship followed. A quay wall with sandstone details was added. Steps led into the water. Cannons stood ready for salutes.
Between 1893 and 1895, Munthe built a U-shaped residential complex. It included a boathouse, a barracks, and the station master’s house. Captain Carl Velten served for almost fifty years.
Theodor II Nietner designed the grounds. A driveway curved past the reception hall. Paths led to sheds, cannons, and the shore. A garden with birches and evergreens filled the courtyard.
In 1896, Wilhelm II named the station Kongsnæs. The name mirrored the Norsk Folkemuseum. This open-air museum displayed threatened wooden houses. An archway similar to one there was erected. It bore the name KONGSNÆS.
Kongsnæs served as a home port. The Royal Louise and Alexandria were stationed here. Captain Velten commanded these vessels. The imperial family used them for leisure trips. Naval cadets learned seamanship. Princes practiced sailing. Kaiser Wilhelm regularly sailed to rowing regattas.
Physicist Adolf Slaby conducted wireless telegraphy experiments. Assisted by the Matrosenstation crew, he transmitted signals. The signal traveled from Sacrow’s Heilandskirche.
After World War I, the new government seized Hohenzollern assets. Kongsnæs’ role as a royal landing site ended. The Royal Louise went to a Berlin sailing club. The Alexandria was sold to Vienna.
In 1926, Kongsnæs remained with the former royal house. The buildings became rentals. The Kaiserlicher Yacht-Club used the reception pavilion. In 1930, a simpler addition was built.
Heavy damage occurred during World War II. The reception pavilion burned down. The border ran through Kongsnæs. Access to the lakeside was cut off until 1989.
The Förderverein Kongsnæs formed after reunification. They aimed to restore the complex. The site gained landmark status. In 2000, the Norwegian-made archway was re-erected.
Today, the restored Ventehalle operates as a restaurant. The Matrosenhaus stands as a testament. It embodies Potsdam’s rich maritime history. The Matrosenhaus received the Willy-Brandt-Preis 2021. The project was completed in December 2022. The Matrosenhäuser are finished.