Discover the journey of two brothers who traded nightlife for an extraordinary dream of building the world's largest model train set. Their project, Miniatur Wunderland, evolved from a nostalgic inspiration into a top tourist destination visited by celebrities. Hear about the challenges they faced, from funding struggles to creative obstacles, and how a single phone call fueled their ambition. Explore the fascinating world they've created, showcasing the beauty of model trains and the surprising stories behind their construction.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Building a Model Railway Team
Frederik and Gerrit Braun carefully selected a team from nightclub attendees to build the model set.
They chose motivated people with diverse skills including some fun personalities.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Inspiration from Childhood Memories
Frederik Braun was inspired to build the world's largest model railway during a holiday in Zurich.
He remembered childhood memories of model railways which sparked this new idea.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Convincing a Skeptical Brother
Frederik excitedly pitched the model railway idea to his brother Gerrit multiple times in one day.
Gerrit was skeptical initially but gradually became intrigued after discussions.
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In 2000, nightclub owners and twins Frederik and Gerrit Braun went from the neon lights of a Hamburg nightclub to building the world’s largest model trainset.
Miniatur Wunderland is now a top tourist destination and global attraction visited by millions, including celebrities like Adele and Sir Rod Stewart.
Frederik and Gerrit Braun tell Megan Jones where this crazy idea came from.
Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.
Recent episodes explore everything from football in Brazil, the history of the ‘Indian Titanic’ and the invention of air fryers, to Public Enemy’s Fight The Power, subway art and the political crisis in Georgia. We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: visionary architect Antoni Gaudi and the design of the Sagrada Familia; Michael Jordan and his bespoke Nike trainers; Princess Diana at the Taj Mahal; and Görel Hanser, manager of legendary Swedish pop band Abba on the influence they’ve had on the music industry. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the time an Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes at the President of the United States in protest of America’s occupation of Iraq; the creation of the Hollywood commercial that changed advertising forever; and the ascent of the first Aboriginal MP.
(Photo: Frederik and Gerrit during the construction of the airport section. Credit: Frederik and Gerrit Braun / Miniatur Wunderland Hamburg)
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