Overview
- Active, on-site restoration formally began on Friday, May 22, 2026, with work focused first on the lighthouse’s exterior and interior repairs planned for autumn 2026.
- The city has committed about €40 million to the island program, with roughly €22 million earmarked for the lighthouse and €3.55 million provided by the federal government.
- Logistics have shaped the schedule because materials and machines have been moved to Neuwerk since April over the mudflats and by ship, which limits how much work can run at once.
- A four-month archaeological excavation led by the Archäologisches Museum Hamburg is running alongside construction to study the medieval Turmwurt and inform monument-sensitive restoration.
- The wider redevelopment will repurpose the tower as a hotel, restaurant and event venue from 2028, add modest housing by converting existing buildings, and include the planned acquisition of two small hotels for which the city is seeking tenants.