Previous names: The name “Auf der Düne” (On the Dune) has been retained since the opening until today.

Year of construction: 1898/1900

History/owners until 1945: The house was built by Vicor Hecht (“owner of the riding institute at Granitz-Hof”). The villa first appeared in the 1901 residential directory as the “Villa auf der Düne” – Lottumstraße 18, owned by V. Hecht, who also owned the sports center at Lottumstraße 17. In 1902, Hulda Schmidt from Stralsund purchased the house. The 1909 Binz guide described the house as follows: “Auf der Düne” guesthouse for families and single adults. Excellent location directly on the spruce forest, close to the lake and bathing areas. Comfortably furnished rooms. Good home cooking. No wine obligation. Brochures available from the owner: Mrs. Hulda Schmidt.

Hulda Schmidt remained the owner in the following years. In 1911, a large extension was added to the house, bringing the total number of guest rooms to 27. She ran it as a well-recommended establishment. In July 1937, Hulda Schmidt sold the house to Margarete Bürkner, née Munkwitz, who until then had owned the “Rotkäppchen” house in Binz. Together with her daughter Annemarie, she ran the “Auf der Düne” as a guesthouse. Annemarie Bürkner married Erwin Niemann, a self-employed coastal fisherman from Sassnitz, in 1943. Annemarie’s sister, Ursel Köppen (née Bürkner), also helped run the guesthouse.

In September 1944, Margarete Bürkner transferred ownership of the house to her daughter Annemarie Niemann, née Bürkner.

GDR era: From 1945 onwards, the house was occupied by refugees from East Prussia. Later, miners from the “Wismut” in Aue were regularly sent to Binz for recreation and accommodated in the house as holiday guests.

In February 1953, Annemarie Niemann was reported to the State Security Service for “unlawful possession” of a sack of chicken feed as part of “Operation Rose.” To avoid arrest and transfer to Bützow Penitentiary, the entire family fled to the West. This was followed by compulsory expropriation.

From July 1953, the house was “property of the people.” A year later (from July 1954), the Binz municipal council became the legal owner. The house was used to house apartments, an after-school care center, and later a kindergarten, among other things.

After 1990: In 1994, the house was transferred back to Annemarie Niemann. She signed it over to her daughters Antje-Maria Niemann and Sylvia Neumann, née Niemann. The house was completely renovated by them as a community of heirs from 1998 to 1999. Ten rental apartments were created, which were managed jointly by the sisters.

The majority of the house is still owned by the Niemann-Lausberger and Neumann families today.

Current use: Rental apartments

Interesting facts/anecdotes: Next to the house “Auf der Düne” was the house “Königin Augusta Tattersall,” where the movie theater was opened on February 20, 1920.

Photos: Boy Collection, Lutz Grünke, Binzer Bucht Tourismus Collection

Text: Klaus Boy, Antje-Maria Niemann-Lausberger, Binzer Bucht Tourismus