Viller Mühle

There's no passport or customs check, but yet it feels like wandering into another world. Just outside the tiny village of Kessel, near the German-Dutch border, lies the universe shaped by puppeteer Heinz Böhmler. Historical sources cite that the place has been known for it's mill since the 13th century, but what you see know upon arrival, is predominantly 19th century buildings and a wacky wonderful collection of all things thinkable. 

Mummified cats and rats? Check. Soaps and boardgames from bygone days? Check. Passports from countries that don't exist anymore? Check. An overview of elektrical switches? Present. There is just a touch of order, like all the dentist-related objects are sort of in the same corner, but there is also a wide array of variation and surprises to be found. Everywhere. And puppets, there are loads of puppets. Parts of the grounds are used as theater and bar, but most of the spaces are used for storing the wildly diverse collection of Herr Böhmer, who moved here in 1994, after the mill had been abandoned and dilapidated.

The place now serves a venue for theater events and parties, and is only sparsely open to the public. You can always book a tour however, there are programs called True Craziness (Wahre Wahnsinn) or Time Travel, there are also puppetshows, or you can plan your wedding there.

All in all, it's an ode to imagination, to collecting, to chaos. As one of the handwritten signs on display says: today's trash is future treasure.