Emperor William II gave the little town on the North Sea coast of Lower Saxony its role as a naval port. It was from here that the well-equipped fleet was to set sail to represent the German Empire on the Seven Seas. Wilhelmshaven is a naval base, even today, but the "maritime" heading now relates to entirely different aspects as well. The Expo project "Oceanis" takes visitors down to the ocean depths, allowing them to participate in research voyages and solve research problems - all in virtual space. Right next door, in the Coastal Museum, "Whale Worlds" presents a huge sperm whale.
Its skeleton and in particular the plastinated organs of the marine mammal are an attraction not only for fans of Moby Dick. But when touring the maritime port of Wilhelmshaven, you don't have to go around accumulating knowledge all the time. At the Bonte Quay you'll find an old lightship and the "Kapiton Meyer", a steam-powered buoy-laying vessel. The latter can be hired for all kinds of events, while the lightship - now a hotel and restaurant - will give you an in-depth picture of the seafaring world.