Hof Bartels is a working farm in Rade, just outside Neu Wulmstorf, run by the Bartels family for four generations. Heiner and Annika Bartels run it now, and in August 2020 they opened a barn-style café and farm shop in Rade that sits alongside the farming itself. It’s not built as an attraction. It’s a farm you’re welcome to spend a few hours in.
What There Is To Do
The two paid activities are the corn maze (Maislabyrinth) and farm golf (Bauerngolf), both running through summer and autumn. The maze costs €5 for adults and kids 13 and up, €4 for ages 3 to 12, and typically runs from early July through the start of November. Last entry is an hour before closing.
Farm golf is €7 for adults and older kids, €5 for ages 3 to 12, with an earlier last-entry cutoff than the maze. Doing both gets you a small combo discount, worth asking about at the till rather than assuming it’s automatic.
Neither has a strict minimum age beyond the pricing tiers. Whether a three-year-old actually completes the maze or just runs through it backwards for twenty minutes is up to them.
The Café and Breakfast
The café serves homemade cakes, coffee, farm ice cream, and breakfast Tuesday to Sunday, 9am to noon. There’s a savoury option, a sweet option, and vegan choices, plus fresh rolls from a local bakery. The official site notes breakfast needs 24 hours’ notice to book, though it’s not clear if that applies to everyone or just larger groups. Worth a quick call before you go if breakfast’s the plan.
Seating is available inside, in a rustic barn setting, or outside on a terrace overlooking the fields.
Pumpkin Season
From mid-September, the farm runs a pumpkin display with around 100 varieties, from standard eating pumpkins to decorative gourds. There are two pumpkin pyramids built for photos (no climbing on them), and a straw playground where kids can climb and run.
On weekends and holidays from mid-September, the farm also sells pumpkin waffles and pumpkin soup, served from late morning into the evening.
Good To Know Before You Go
Hof Bartels runs a second location in nearby Wennerstorf. It’s self-service only, no café, but it’s open daily with a vending machine (Regiomat) for produce access outside normal hours.
One thing to sort out before you drive over: the farm’s own website lists two different sets of opening hours for the Rade location that don’t fully agree with each other. We’d suggest a quick call to confirm current hours, especially if you’re travelling any distance.
Parking is free, with a large lot directly on site.
