On March 24, 2026, Udo Lindenberg himself set the “Panik-Express” in motion at Miniatur Wunderland, launching a rolling journey through time that traces his own life. Eight train cars showcase countless stories spanning eight decades.

The “Panik-Express” was created over the past few months at Wunderland in close collaboration with Hamburg’s honorary citizen. The intricately designed train cars chronicle a journey through eight decades of Udo’s life—from his childhood in Gronau to his time as a drummer in Libya, legendary moments connected to the GDR, and recent successes such as the hit “Komet.”

“This special train at Miniatur Wunderland is a great honor for me. What impresses me most, aside from all the incredible details, is the depiction of German history,” says Udo Lindenberg.

The project was also something special for the Wunderland founders: “The Panik-Express is probably the most elaborate train we’ve ever built. It’s incredible to see how much creativity, passion, and countless hours of work the model-building team has put into this,” says Frederik Braun. Gerrit Braun adds: “Udo and Hamburg simply belong together—and that’s exactly why the Panik-Express fits so perfectly into Wunderland. And even more importantly: Udo Lindenberg has always brought people together—across borders, generations, and cultures.”

The model is more than just a train. It is a living monument that tells real stories through its rich detail: Behind the locomotive—inspired by the legendary “Special Train to Pankow”—are eight wagons that become small stages. There’s childhood in the ’50s in black and white, his time as a drummer in the dunes of Libya in the ’60s, and his first nights at “Onkel Pö” in Hamburg in the ’70s. This is followed by moments from the GDR, such as a concert at an FDJ peace rally. While Udo is carried on the shoulders of fans in front of the concert hall at the Berlin Wall, Erich Honecker tries his hand at the strings in a compartment, complete with the famous guitar and the message “Guitars instead of guns.”

After hitting rock bottom, Udo rises like a “phoenix from the bottle” and returns to life. With companions like Clueso, an MTV Unplugged vibe takes hold—and eventually the procession arrives in the present. There, a glowing comet—ridden by Udo and Apache 207—provides a spectacular finale at the end of the procession.

Starting now, the Panik-Express is running through the Hamburg section of Wunderland. And if you’re looking for it, listen closely: when it stops at Dammtor Station, a track from the classic “Sonderzug nach Pankow” plays. This train doesn’t just run. It rocks. And it does so on a 1:87 scale.

The “Panik-Express”

Downloads

Click here for collaboration with Udo Lindenberg

Here you will find additional video footage from the opening.

The post “From ‘Sonderzug nach Pankow’ to the ‘Panik-Express’: Udo Lindenberg takes over Miniatur Wunderland—and continues his story on the rails. first appeared on Miniatur Wunderland.

a new, action-packed virtual reality adventure called the “Wunderland Miniathlon.”

Visitors are shrunk to a scale of 1:87 and experience Miniatur Wunderland completely at eye level—right in the middle of the action.

In this approximately ten-minute experience, participants embark on a fast-paced competition through the microcosm of the model world:

• a turbulent kayak race through Venice,
• precise cotton swab archery,
• a daring balancing act in the model-making underground
• as well as a chaotic finale in Knuffingen’s market square, where a gang of monkeys causes additional challenges.

Whether it’s skill, courage, or nerves of steel – the outcome of the miniathlon remains uncertain until the very end.

Addition to the successful VR walk

The “Wunderland Miniathlon” is deliberately designed to be the fast-paced counterpart to the popular VR walk “Walking in Wunderland.” Since April 2022, over 700,000 guests have already immersed themselves in the virtual worlds of YULLBE WUNDERLAND in Hamburg’s Speicherstadt district.

The experiences are created in collaboration between the creators of Miniatur Wunderland and Europa-Park. Visitors move around freely in the space (“free roaming”) either alone or in groups of up to six people, becoming part of the model world themselves.

The YULLBE WUNDERLAND GO Experience

For the experience, guests receive VR glasses and hand sensors and can move freely around an 80 m² play area.
The YULLBE WUNDERLAND GO adventures last around ten minutes each, with several experiences to choose from. The offer is recommended for visitors aged between 8 and 70. The experiences can be enjoyed in combination with Wunderland or independently.

Start: March 2026
Location: YULLBE WUNDERLAND, Am Sandtorkai 33, 20457 Hamburg

More information under:
www.yullbe-wunderland.de

Press contact

Niklas Weissleder

n.weissleder@miniatur-wunderland.de

The post New virtual reality experience: “Wunderland Miniathlon” launches at YULLBE WUNDERLAND first appeared on Miniatur Wunderland.

Hamburg, July 2025.
A silent moment at the airport: three teenagers, around 16 years old, sat side by side, all staring at their phones – for 15 minutes. Not a glance, not a word, not a laugh. Two men next to them were engaged in a lively, emotional conversation.
“This contrast deeply affected me,” says Frederik Braun, one of the founders of Miniatur Wunderland Hamburg. “I was sitting on a plane and wrote the lyrics to ‘Bildschirmblick’ during the flight.”

The song, produced under the project name Generation B, is more than just music. It’s a plea. A wake-up call, wrapped in humor and heart – and could become Germany’s highest-charting AI music project to date.
Frederik and his wife Johanna (herself a musician and educator) are parents of five children and want to make a difference:
“We use modern digital technology ourselves every day and are very grateful for the opportunities it offers, but children first need to experience the analog world so they can later learn to navigate the digital world safely. And they can’t do that alone.”

Between Dopamine and Constant Stimulation – What Happens in Children’s Brains
The initial spark for the project came at the beginning of the year when Johanna Braun, frustrated with the way her twins’ fifth-grade class handled smartphones, gave a presentation on children’s media use in schools. She explained why children between the ages of 10 and 12 are particularly at risk:
“During this phase, the prefrontal cortex – the part of the brain responsible for impulse control and decision-making – is not yet fully developed. Every message, every like triggers a small dopamine release. This feels good, but it trains the brain for short-term rewards instead of patience and concentration.”
Neuroscientific studies confirm this: Constant overstimulation can lead to reduced self-control and increased distractibility in the long run. Children whose daily lives are dominated by social media or fast-paced games have greater difficulty concentrating on a task for extended periods or tolerating frustration.
The DAK and UKE study (2023) shows that over a quarter of 10- to 17-year-olds in Germany use social media in a risky or pathological way, and 4.7 percent are already considered addicted.
“We are facing a tsunami of addiction disorders,” warned Professor Rainer Thomasius from the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf. Boys are particularly at risk: six percent already meet the criteria for media-dependent use.

Other countries have long been taking action.
While Germany is still debating, other countries have long since taken decisive action:
• France banned smartphones in schools back in 2018 – including their use during breaks and on school grounds.
• New Zealand introduced a nationwide ban on mobile phones in schools in 2024. Prime Minister Luxon explained: “We cannot stand idly by while our children’s concentration and educational success decline.”
• In the same year, Australia not only banned mobile phones in schools, but also social media access for those under 16. Platforms there are required to verify age – violations are punishable by fines of up to AUD 50 million.
• The Netherlands and Belgium have implemented similar regulations – with measurable success: 87% of schools report better concentration, 81% of improved learning behavior.
• Germany, on the other hand, remains hesitant. “We discuss data protection and innovation, but not the well-being of our children,” says Frederik Braun.

What Generation B wants for Germany
“We’re not calling for a total ban,” emphasizes Johanna Braun.
“But we do want clear guidelines at last – and the courage to take children by the hand again.” It will only work if politicians, schools, and parents all pull together. One cannot exist without the other.

Their key points:
• No smartphones before age 12, ideally 14
• Smartphone ban in schools up to grade 10 to protect social and cognitive development.
• Social media use only from age 16 – in combination with age verification.
• Mandatory lessons on media literacy, data protection, and digital ethics.
• Parental education instead of blame: Adults must model responsible media use.

An AI Song with Heart – and a Social Mission
The fact that “Bildschirmblick” (Screen View) was produced using AI is not a stylistic choice, but a symbol:
“We wanted to show that artificial intelligence doesn’t have to be the enemy,” says Frederik Braun.
“If AI helps us talk about real issues, then it becomes a tool for humanity.”
All proceeds from the song, CD, and picture disc will go to the Rolf Zuckowski Foundation “Children Need Music.”
A charming and deliberate contrast to the AI: The song is available in a unique vinyl edition with a genuine signature pressed into the vinyl – each copy is one of a kind. (www.releeze.de)
What began as a quiet moment at the airport is now a song, a statement, and perhaps the beginning of a long-overdue social debate.
“Children need closeness, music, and real conversations – not constant lights shining in their faces.”

Sources (selection):
• DAK / UKE-Studie 2023, Medienkonsum und Suchtverhalten bei Jugendlichen in Deutschland
• Deutsches Schulportal: Handyverbot in Frankreich und Belgien, 2024
• Tagesschau.de, Neuseeland verbietet Handys an Schulen, 2024
• Spiegel Online, Australien verbietet Social Media unter 16 Jahren, 2024
• Rainer Thomasius (UKE): Deutsches Zentrum für Suchtfragen des Kindes- und Jugendalters, 2023

The post Miniatur Wunderland founder Frederik and educator Johanna Braun launch a musical appeal for a more conscious use of smartphones. first appeared on Miniatur Wunderland.

Wunderland founder Gerrit Braun welcomed the anniversary visitor, Dorina Trillitzsch, at the entrance. In addition to a colorful shower of confetti, she and her husband were surprised with a certificate and a lifetime ticket granting them free admission forever. It was already their third visit to Wunderland.

“We are completely surprised. The fact that it’s me is, of course, the highlight for me. With this ticket, there is now one more reason to make the journey to Hamburg,” said the 59-year-old from Thuringia.

We create a miniature model of the winner during her visit, and before leaving the exhibition, Dorina Trillitzsch will be able to immortalize herself at a location of her choice! As a passionate animal lover, she quickly found the perfect spot: In the newest model section, Monaco, she chose a garden scene where she can enjoy the sunshine with cats.

25 million visitors – a success story in numbers
In 2024 alone, 1,594,016 people from all over the world marveled at the detailed model landscape. About 75% of the visitors came from Germany, while 25% traveled from abroad. Since opening in 2001, millions of international guests have visited the Wunderland, with their share increasing year by year. The Wunderland is particularly popular with our neighbors from Switzerland (638,000 visitors), Austria (585,000), and Denmark (492,000). Visitors from the United Kingdom (270,000), the USA (243,000), and France (142,000) are also regular guests.
A unique moment in our history occurred on August 11, 2016, when we officially welcomed guests from every country in the world with a visitor from East Timor – a true testament to how the Wunderland captivates people worldwide.

Germany’s most popular tourist attraction
Miniatur Wunderland has been voted Germany’s most popular tourist attraction six times in a row – an honor we carry forward with dedication and passion. On over 1,600 square meters, our visitors can discover countless fascinating details, hidden Easter eggs, and artistic landscapes from around the world. Recent expansions like Monaco and Provence (2024) have made the Wunderland even more vibrant, while work is currently underway on the breathtaking Amazon rainforest.

An important economic factor for Hamburg
The Wunderland not only attracts millions of visitors but also significantly contributes to Hamburg’s tourism industry. A recent survey of 700 guests revealed that 25.07% travel to Hamburg exclusively to visit Miniatur Wunderland. This figure continues to grow each year. Among these visitors, 83.46% stay in a hotel and spend an average of 2.1 nights. This amounts to over 700,000 overnight stays annually in Hamburg’s hotels – an impressive contribution to the local economy.

The post Miniatur Wunderland welcomes its 25-millionth guest – and she gets to immortalize herself in the exhibition! first appeared on Miniatur Wunderland.

• New locations & experiences: Shrunk to two centimeters in height, visitors travel through various completely new or redesigned areas of Wonderland, including Knuffingen, Venice, Knuffingen Airport, Switzerland and America.
• Mini games such as the Firefighter Olympics, parkour in the chocolate factory, soap bubble dance competition or mole hunt in the vacuum cleaner provide additional fun and excitement. Who will score the most points?
• Improved graphics and details: The updated version offers even more detailed graphics, perfecting the immersion in the virtual world. There is also a wealth of new characters to play as!
• Extensively updated hardware: The hardware has been modernized and updated since last autumn. In addition to a new, lighter helmet, a multisensitive vest has been added to make the experience even more realistic.

The post The Crazy Shrink Tour 2.0: YULLBE WUNDERLAND presents a completely renewed VR experience! first appeared on Miniatur Wunderland.

• New locations & experiences: Shrunk to two centimeters in height, visitors travel through various completely new or redesigned areas of Wonderland, including Knuffingen, Venice, Knuffingen Airport, Switzerland and America.
• Mini games such as the Firefighter Olympics, parkour in the chocolate factory, soap bubble dance competition or mole hunt in the vacuum cleaner provide additional fun and excitement. Who will score the most points?
• Improved graphics and details: The updated version offers even more detailed graphics, perfecting the immersion in the virtual world. There is also a wealth of new characters to play as!
• Extensively updated hardware: The hardware has been modernized and updated since last autumn. In addition to a new, lighter helmet, a multisensitive vest has been added to make the experience even more realistic.

The post The Crazy Shrink Tour 2.0: YULLBE WUNDERLAND presents a completely renewed VR experience! first appeared on Miniatur Wunderland.

After eleven years of work, over 150,000 working hours and more than 5,000,000 euros in construction costs, the new Monaco section of Miniatur Wunderland was opened on April 25, 2024 in the presence of Prince Albert II, Princess Charlène, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella. The 70-square-meter installation, including the Provence landscape, adds a spectacular attraction to Wunderland. The absolute highlight is the Formula 1 track, a version of which has been in the works for eleven years. As in the large original, the Formula E race in Monte Carlo is also held on a scale of 1:87.

“Gerrit and I probably visited Monaco ten times during our childhood. It was always a highlight of our annual trip to France for us to go to Monaco and watch the hustle and bustle at the marina in the evening. It was great fun for us to keep a tally with our father and get all the French cars and sports cars together on vacation. And Monaco was always a particularly great opportunity.”, says Frederik Braun.

In Monaco-Ville, the old town of the dwarf state, there is still little sign of the hustle and bustle of the Formula 1 race. The buildings are lined up close together, from the famous Ozeaneum to St. Nicholas Cathedral and the Prince’s Palace. Scenes designed with great attention to detail show everyday life along the Mediterranean coast.
A few streets further on, the view opens up onto the harbor with 175 luxurious yachts, while other large superyachts are docked in front of the city.

“Everyone knows the panorama of Monaco from the sea,” says Frederik Braun. “Monaco is mytos. I grew up in the days of Grace Kelly, Rainier and death-defying racing drivers. That naturally shaped my childhood image. Monaco certainly caters to many clichés and the construction has taught us once again that the truth and the cliché are not always congruent. But sometimes they do.” Monaco certainly caters to many clichés and the construction has taught us once again that the truth and the cliché are not always congruent. But sometimes they do.”, tells Frederik Braun.

As a guest, you can watch the Grand Prix racing action from the water’s edge. From the start and finish straight, up to 14 racing cars race around tight bends, past the Café Paris, the city’s casino and through the Congress Center tunnel. Thousands of spectators on eight grandstands follow the action with excitement and a flurry of flashbulbs as soon as the racing cars race past them.

‘I always thought it was impossible to drive Formula 1 cars in Wunderland in a realistic race in continuous operation, and that’s exactly what made the idea so appealing. We tried it out for several years and didn’t know whether it would ever be successful. It really is a miracle that it actually works today,’ reports Gerrit Braun.
‘When we realised it could work, we would have expected it to take 3-4 years.
Looking back on 10 years of development, I’m amazed that we hadn’t given up already. But today, pure joy prevails.”

The underlying principle of Formula 1 technology is based on so-called Halbach arrays. 24 track boards, 90 control boards and 90 locating boards are the heart of the hardware – a 22 meter long race track. In fractions of a millisecond, electronically generated, punctual magnetic fields move on it, allowing the racing cars to be controlled individually. Over 100,000 lines of programming code were required to develop the software – also to guarantee that the race would always run differently. Around 39,000 meters of cable are concealed beneath the system. They not only connect 5,700 Hall sensors and 2,800 temperature sensors, but also a live camera system at the side of the track.
Cameras measuring 29 millimetres in size were integrated along the track and transmit spectacular live images from a familiar TV perspective to several miniature screens on the spectator grandstands – as well as for the larger visitors at the edge of the track.

“Showcasing Formula E in Monaco was clear early on. All the drivers have the same technical requirements here, and good tactics from the drivers often decide the race. That makes it incredibly exciting,” said Gerrit Braun.

In contrast to the glamorous principality, including various parties on the city’s rooftop terraces and the rich engine noise surrounding the Formula 1 race, is the subsequent model section of Provence. Time seems to have stood still in this rugged yet lovely landscape, evoking nostalgic memories. The lavender fields around Senanque Abbey are a real eye-catcher. Typical local vegetation makes the viewer feel the scorching heat. Just a little further on, the crystal-clear blue water at the foot of the Verdon Gorge provides a visual cool-down.

Prince Albert II and Charlène of Monaco and their twins Jacques and Gabriella traveled from the Principality to the opening of the new section and were the first people to take a look at the small world of the Principality in 1:87 scale. At the push of a button, they started the first Formula 1 race in Wunderland with their children. At the push of a button, they started the first Formula 1 race in Wunderland together with their children.

When asked about his favorite motif, Prince Albert II summarizes: “It’s hard to pick out anything, everything is so incredibly well done. Some of the details of the yacht club and the harbor and the Malizia sailboat, but also around the Formula 1 track. It’s all so detailed and done with such incredible precision.”

Monaco and Provence will be followed by the rainforest with the Amazon and Andes at the turn of the year 2025/2026 and the Caribbean in 2027. Subsequently, parts of Asia are planned. These will be located above South America on the 4th floor of the neighboring building, which will open in 2021. Until then, the floor will be used for special exhibitions and will offer a spectacular view of the South American sections under construction thanks to a huge opening in the ceiling.

 

Downloads

Click here for an interview with Gerrit Braun on Formula 1 (5 GB)

Click here for an interview with Prince Albert II (1.7 GB)

Click here for the recording of the first race (1.8 GB)

Click here for video footage of the Monaco section:

Download part 1

Download part 2

Download part 3

Download part 4

 

Weitere Links:

Gerrits Tagebuch: Einblicke in 10 Jahre Entwicklung der Formel 1-Strecke

Bauphase von Monaco & der Provence als YouTube-Playlist

Highlight-Video zur Formel 1 auf YouTube

 

 

Zum Herunterladen der Fotos bitte darauf rechtsklicken und “Ziel speichern unter…” auswählen:

 

 

 

 

 

Pressekontakt

Niklas Weissleder

n.weissleder@miniatur-wunderland.de

The post Monaco: Prince Albert II and Princess Charlène open new section of Miniatur Wunderland first appeared on Miniatur Wunderland.

Press contact:

Niklas Weissleder

n.weissleder@miniatur-wunderland.de

The post Opening of Monaco on April 25, 2024 first appeared on Miniatur Wunderland.

Press contact:

Contact for the movie:

Bernd Fehr

bernd.fehr@boxofficePR.de

Contact the Miniatur Wunderland:

Niklas Weissleder

n.weissleder@miniatur-wunderland.de

The post Wunderland is coming to the movies first appeared on Miniatur Wunderland.

The event was organized for the first time in January 2015. Since then, over 100,000 people have already taken advantage of the offer. Since then, the reactions have been positive almost without exception. There are now countless letters of thanks and we have been able to see emotional moments almost every day. The videos explaining the initiative on Facebook and YouTube have been shared millions of times. There is often concern in the comments that it is being exploited. The opposite is the case.

“I’m happy for every single person who finds out about this offer and takes advantage of it. Maybe one in a thousand will exploit the program, but in the end I don’t care about them. The last few years have shown that it pays to trust and believe in the good,” explains Gerrit Braun.

Many hundreds of visitors are expected to take advantage of the offer on each of the 20 dates in January. There are emotional scenes at the entrance every day. “You only have to stand at the entrance for a few minutes on the event days and you know that it’s worth it. People’s reactions are touching and motivating. Unfortunately, the great response also shows that there are still many people in Germany who live in precarious conditions. It is a great pleasure for us that we are in the fortunate position of being able to give these people a wonderful moment,” reports Frederik Braun.

A video in which Frederik and Gerrit Braun explain the campaign is online on Facebook and YouTube. The first day of the campaign is on Sunday, January 7 and ends on January 31. Saturdays are excluded. All dates and further information can be found at www.miniatur-wunderland.de/leisten

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PBHFJOZPhE

Facebook: https://fb.watch/pt8UA8N3Qz/

The post Free admission for people who can’t otherwise afford to visit Wunderland first appeared on Miniatur Wunderland.