You’ll know you’ve reached the KOLK 17 Puppet Theatre & Museum when you see the bold magenta sign with “KOLK 17” stretched vertically and abstract geometric shapes pointing you toward the entrance - just scan the historical brick Gothic facades along Kolk street, not far from St. Peter’s Church, and you’re in the right spot!
Now, take a deep breath-because as you stand before KOLK 17, you are about to tumble headfirst down a rabbit hole of imagination that spans continents, centuries, and just maybe, a few puppet strings! Picture five narrow, grand old merchants’ houses, each whispering secrets from the days of Lübeck’s Hanseatic heyday. But instead of baskets of grain and barrels of herring, these walls now hold over 20,000 treasures: not gold coins, but characters, carved and painted, from every corner of the puppet-playing world.
It all began with a man named Fritz Fey Junior, whose heart was stolen-ironically-by the very things that often don’t have hearts at all. Fritz grew up surrounded by the magical world of puppet theatre, thanks to his father (who, by the way, opened his own marionette theater just steps away from where you stand in the late 1970s-talk about a family tradition!). But Fritz’s passion became an obsession as he traveled the world, not as a puppeteer but as a cameraman for North German Broadcasting. Every trip, every foreign street, became a quest: a market in Asia, a shadowy theatre in Africa, a back-room collection in Prague, all ripe for the picking-if you had a keen eye and a childlike sense of wonder.
His efforts weren’t in vain. What started as a humble collection soon ballooned to 25,000 items, filling lofts, storage boxes, and-thank the puppet gods-eventually the grand halls of Kolk. There are marionettes whose joints have danced for generations, shadow play figures from Indonesia that flicker with mystery, hand puppets who have punched, pleaded, and delighted children from London to Lübeck. Don’t miss the “Opera dei Pupi,” straight from Sicily’s legendary puppet stages, or the fabulous “Metamorphoses”-puppets with more costume changes than a pop star on tour.
But the museum is more than a cabinet of curiosities. Thanks to the help of the city, devoted supporters like the Possehl Foundation, and the creative magic of Fritz’s wife, Saraswathi-a classical Indian dancer with just as much flair for the dramatic-the collection transformed Kolk into Lübeck’s must-see destination for anyone with a sense of play. Take a look at the exhibits through the windows (and maybe peek through any open door), and imagine tiny theatres, whole fairgrounds on wheels, shadow screens, music boxes, crank organs, posters, costumes, and even the odd dog clown puppet (no, seriously-some even performed with real dogs!).
As the years rolled along and the world changed, so did KOLK 17. Rising rents threatened to close the curtain, but the museum transformed into a limited company and continued to thrive, always inventing new ways to enchant. In recent years, a historic partnership was formed-pairing the puppet museum with the Kobalt Puppet Theatre, making Kolk 17 a powerhouse for live performances and dazzling exhibitions. After a sweeping restoration, with architects bringing fresh imagination while honoring every brick and gable, the revamped KOLK 17 re-opened its doors in March 2025. Now, modern theatre spaces, cozy cafés, and hands-on activities fill the complex. (Pro tip: if you hear a distant giggle or a faint tune, maybe a puppet is pulling the strings.)
Here’s the kicker: KOLK 17 isn’t just about nostalgia or fairy tales. Its collection is officially part of the world’s Intangible Cultural Heritage, as recognized by UNESCO. You’ll find treasures representing the best in global puppet art: Indonesian Wayang, Japanese Bunraku heads, and Chinese shadow play. And thanks to a recent digitization project, you can dive into the catalogue of over 35,000 pieces from anywhere in the world-even your own couch (but visiting in person is far more enchanting, trust me).
So as you stand here, close your eyes and imagine the clatter of marionette feet on a wooden stage, the hush before a curtain rises, the gasp of a child seeing a dragon or a princess suddenly spring to life. Here at Kolk 17, magic is very real-it just sometimes comes with a few strings attached. And now, the only real mystery left: who’s inside today, the fearless pirate Eberhard, the clever Kasper, or maybe that clownish dog, ready for his encore? Don’t be afraid to step in and find out. Puppets love an audience!
For further insights on the museum, puppet theatre or the a new cultural institution is emerging, feel free to navigate to the chat section below and inquire.
