Domäne Dahlem

In Dahlem, where the southwest of Berlin almost feels like a village, Domäne Dahlem has been practicing real agriculture and animal husbandry for centuries, now as a recognized Bioland organic farm with an open-air museum. Here, children experience agriculture up close in a way hardly anyone would expect in a city of millions. The farm is even easily accessible by subway.

Domäne Dahlem: Farm in the Big City

The former knight’s estate looks back on over 800 years of history and is today an agricultural history open-air museum with a functioning farm. What does that mean? Pigs in mud, cows in the pasture, chickens on the dung heap. Particularly old domestic animal breeds, which are threatened with extinction, are kept here in a species-appropriate manner. Ponies, sheep, goats, cattle, ducks, chickens, turkeys, bees, and horses have a home on the farm. Children and parents experience how the animals are fed, cows are driven in or out, and stables are mucked out. So, whoever wants to know where spinach comes from will find the answer here.

Admission to the farm is free. Children can watch the tractors at work, create their own beds, and plant seeds. There is also a field and garden trail, as well as a play meadow and a pond. For those who prefer to sit rather than walk: tractor rides on the trailer are available for just one euro.

Children’s Farm with Real Added Value

Children can discover the hands-on stations in the KinderDomäne (Children’s Domain), whose offerings also take place in the CULINARIUM. Additionally, there is a diverse holiday program that emphasizes outdoor movement and the use of natural materials. Group activities, workshops, and guided tours are also offered in the fields of nutrition, organic farming, and sustainability – such as workshops on wholesome breakfast, bees, or food and climate.

Furthermore, it’s worth taking a look at the calendar: On 12 weekends a year, the legendary market festivals take place in Dahlem, where families can expect many exciting activities related to nature and the environment. The open-air museum also includes various craft workshops such as a forge, pottery, wheelwright’s shop, blueprint printing, and weaving mill. Finally, for those who want to do some organic shopping: The farm shop offers not only fruits and vegetables from the adjacent fields but also sausages from the saddleback pigs kept on the Domäne’s organic farm.