"Sinkable" Kröpelin mill - landmark of the town

The landmark of the town of Kröpelin - the "retractable" mill Anyone driving through Kröpelin from Kühlungsborn or Rerik will not believe their eyes. The mill, visible from the eastern edge of the town, suddenly disappears and reappears a short time later. Construction work on the Galerie-Holländer-Mühle began in 1904 and it was put into operation in 1906. It has a 2-storey solid brick substructure. The first floor is square and made of stone, while the central mill body with eight sides is also built of solid stone and covered with shingles. The wings of this Dutch mill - also known as a cap mill - are attached to the cap so that it can be turned into the wind. The wind turbine of the mill and parts of the equipment are still preserved. The mill was even still in operation until 1952. After it was decommissioned, it was then used as a warehouse for agricultural businesses and for the school as a "polytechnic" center. In 1986, work began on converting the mill into a restaurant. However, this conversion work came to a standstill due to the changes brought about by the fall of communism. In 2006, the "Kröpeliner Mühle" e.V. association was founded with the aim of renovating the mill in order to preserve it as a Kröpelin landmark and to organize and hold cultural events around the mill. The mill is owned by the town. Extensive renovation work began in 2012. The renovation work was completed in 2013 and the mill was reopened on December 20.

The "sinking" Kröpelin mill - a visual mystery on the Baltic Sea coast

If you drive through Kröpelin on the way from Kühlungsborn or Rerik, you will experience an unusual phenomenon: the mill, which can be seen from afar from the eastern edge of the town, suddenly appears to sink - and then reappears shortly afterwards. This optical illusion phenomenon has earned the "submersible" Kröpelin mill its special nickname and makes it one of the strangest landmarks in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

History of the Galerie-Holländer-Mühle in Kröpelin

Construction of the Galerie-Holländer-Mühle - also known as the Kappenmühle - began in 1904 and it was put into operation in 1906. It owes its characteristic appearance to a two-storey solid brick substructure: the first floor is square and made of stone, while the central mill body is octagonal and also solidly built, clad with shingles. A typical feature of this type of mill is that the sails are attached to the rotating cap so that it can always face into the wind. The mill was in operation until 1952, after which it was used as a warehouse and for a time as a polytechnic center for the school.

Restoration and reopening of the Kröpelin landmark

After the fall of communism, renovation plans initially came to a standstill. It was not until 2006 that the "Kröpeliner Mühle" e.V. association was founded, which has since been committed to the restoration and preservation of the landmark and organizes cultural events around the mill. Extensive renovation work began in 2012 and was completed in 2013. The mill was ceremoniously reopened on December 20, 2013. The wind turbine and parts of the historic equipment have been preserved to this day - a rare testimony to the history of the mill on the German Baltic coast between Rostock and Wismar.

Further sights in Kröpelin

East Rock Museum Kröpelin

📍 Kröpelin

Cross-section of East German rock music and cultural history from 40 years of the GDR - guided tours on request On July 3, 2015, the exhibition on East German rock, as part of the entertainment music of the GDR, was opened. Originating from the fund of the "Sechzig -Vierzig" association from Berlin, a unique interactive experience museum was created in cooperation with the University of Wismar, divided into 5 themed areas. Discover it for yourself and let yourself be transported back in time.

Hubelzauber Ceramic Art Studio

📍 Kröpelin

Clay in its most beautiful form. Art that leaves something in us - a feeling, a thought, perhaps even a smile. The ceramics studio in Kröpelin has been creating unusual, unique objects, sculptures and original figures in convincingly high quality stoneware by hand for many years. All ceramic objects are modeled by hand and individually crafted as unique pieces. No series are produced, no casting molds or industrial templates are used. In the end, each blank is a unique piece with a unique feel and its own individual character. Discover lovely garden accessories, sculptures and decorative ceramics for your living ambience and interior - dreamlike eye-catchers in every home. The ceramics studio offers a workshop to anyone interested in trying their hand at creating their own work. This is suitable for everyone. No experience is necessary. Let your imagination run wild and create your own little work of art. In this experience course, you will create your desired object over 2 days, each lasting 2 hours. This course is also suitable for vacationers whose stay takes into account the drying time of approx. 1 week between the work steps. After the final firing of your art object, you can collect it or have it sent by the ceramics studio.

"Retractable" mill in Kröpelin

📍 Kröpelin

The Kröpeliner Mühle is a gallery Dutch windmill. It has been a cultural center since its renovation in 2012 and is used by the "Kröpeliner Mühle" e.V. association for events. It can also be visited. Anyone driving through Kröpelin from Kühlungsborn will not believe their eyes... The mill, visible from afar from the eastern edge of the town, suddenly disappears, but later reappears. The miracle of Kröpelin is easy to explain: One succumbs to an optical illusion, because depending on the viewer's position, the mill, which has long since become the town's landmark, appears or disappears. The gallery Dutch windmill with a two-storey solid brick substructure was built in 1904 and went into operation in 1906. It operated as a grain mill until around 1952. In this Dutch mill - also known as a cap mill - the blades are attached to the cap. The mill body is fixed and only the cap is turned into the wind. Original parts of the wind turbine, such as the comb wheel and the king shaft, are still in the cap, but the equipment has been removed over the years. In 1986, work began on converting the building into a restaurant. However, it was not completed. It was not until 24 years later that a decision was made to carry out a complex modernization and to partially demolish the farm wing. The mill is owned by the town and was reopened at the end of 2013 after extensive renovations. It is operated by the "Kröpeliner Mühle" e.V. association and is open to the public.

Events in Kröpelin

"Mottche Spinkus un de Pelz" by John Brinckmann - musical reading with Wolfgang Rieck

Event

10. May 2026, 13:00–15:00

"Mottche Spinkus un de Pelz" by John Brinckmann - musical reading with Wolfgang Rieck

📍 versenkbare Mühle Kröpelin

"Mottche Spinkus un de Pelz" by John Brinckmann, which is set in the Jewish milieu of the small town of Güstrow in the first half of the 19th century

Event

14. May 2026, 09:00–11:00

Morning pint with Andreas Pasternack

📍 versenkbare Mühle Kröpelin

Thursday, 14.05.2026 Ascension Day/Father's Day 11.00 - 13.00 hrs Morning pint with Andreas Pasternack

Event

23. May 2026, 08:00–16:00

Studio "Hubelzauber"

📍 Hubelzauber Ceramic Art Studio

Let your mind wander in the Hubelzauber® garden. In our little oasis of well-being, funny trolls, crazy ravens and cheerful birds come together.

Accommodation auf Wismar & Nordwestmecklenburg

Vacation apartments, hotels and more in the region

Hotel

A-ROSA Ostseehotel Kühlungsborn

📍 Ostseebad Kühlungsborn

A-ROSA Ostseehotel Kühlungsborn - your vacation hotel in the first row with the restaurant Kiek in, the bar Rondo and the year-round heated indoor and outdoor pool in the SPA-ROSA on 950 square meters.

Ferienwohnung

AVIP Apartment Rental Island Poel

📍 Insel Poel

The Residenz am Yachthafen Poel in Kirchdorf is one of the most popular addresses in the heart of the island. In this beautifully situated vacation home on the island of Poel, we arrange and rent out vacation apartments on behalf of various owners.