Oerlinghausen Climate Experience World with interactive rooms and Wistinghauser Senne
Looking for something truly captivating on a dreary Sunday? Then head to the Oerlinghausen Climate Experience Center. Interactive exhibits, realistic weather changes, and a visit to the Highland cattle make the trip more exciting than you might expect. Intrigued? The full report awaits you.
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On a rainy Sunday, we were looking for an alternative to the sofa and ended up at the Oerlinghausen Climate Experience Center, which has been open since May 2024. It's just a short walk from the parking lot to the entrance. Inside, a small robot and the team greeted us and briefly explained how the exhibition works.
Interactive spaces and a real change of weather
The highlight of the exhibition for us is the room where rain runs down the walls, wind blows through the space, and even the temperature changes noticeably. The simulation is surprisingly realistic and vividly illustrates what extreme weather feels like. It's impressive for adults, and even more so for children.
Even our four-month-old Emil curiously watches the colorful projections and visualizations, although this room is more of a short stop for such small visitors.
Learn through play and collect points
Each exhibit has a QR code that we use to collect points. The system is simple but immediately fun. At one station, we answer quiz questions; at another, we jump across illuminated squares to accelerate climate-friendly measures. The entire area is lovingly designed and imparts knowledge without pressure. Younger visitors, in particular, are likely to enjoy the competitive aspect.
In the end, we have around 95 points in our account, which we can assign online to one of three projects.
Globe, visualizations and climate development
In another room, a short film explains how the climate is changing. The large globe in the center displays interactive exhibits such as the development of the aurora borealis or seasonal fires worldwide. Everything is touch-sensitive – easy to understand, clearly structured, and well-designed.
The corridor between this room and the "cinema hall" houses a climate strip made of metal plates that make temperature changes over many decades visible and tangible. A short but impressive part of the exhibition.
Practical information on site
There is a snack vending machine, lockers (coin-operated), restrooms, and a baby changing room. You'll also find a small section with regional products such as sausages and other artisanal specialties. We recommend allowing about one to one and a half hours for a visit.
The climate experience center can easily be combined with other stops in Oerlinghausen. The Archaeological Open-Air Museum is open seasonally, the town center is perfect for a coffee and a stroll, and Bielefeld is just a short drive away.
A detour into the Wistinghauser Senne
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Right next to the climate experience center begins the Wistinghauser Senne, part of the "Urland Lippe" region. The two places even share a parking lot. The Scottish Highland cattle graze outdoors year-round, and their distinctive appearance makes for fantastic photo opportunities. For us, a short detour there is practically a must – regardless of the weather.
Conclusion
For around eight euros, the climate experience center in Oerlinghausen offers a varied and educational Sunday outing that can easily be combined with other activities in the area. The interactive weather room and the many small details make it particularly worthwhile.