Deputy water master Simon Völker manages the historical water displays in Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe in Kassel, where water shoots 50 meters into the air. He and his team start work hours before the show to ensure the centuries-old water display operates smoothly under eight bar pressure.
The job leaves little room for error in front of thousands of spectators. To prepare the central feature at the fountain pond, Völker pushes a board over the water, balances to a small island, and fixes the fountain lid with a rod. At 3:45 p.m. on water display days, a strong tug on a chain releases the slide valve to send water into the sky.
Gravity System and Water Routes
The system operates entirely without pumps, relying on natural elevation differences as it did during the time of Landgrave Carl. The fountain reservoir feeding the displays sits 80 meters higher up in the park. A total of 16 slide valves control the water as it rushes down through stations including the Cascades, Devil's Bridge, and the Aqueduct.
To create the geyser effect, Völker explained that smaller holes group around a large central opening to build pressure. Employees of Hessen Kassel Heritage must leave quickly once the valve is pulled, as water splashes several meters depending on the wind. Völker noted that his favorite task is opening the valve at the Artichoke Basin at the feet of Hercules, where he uses a metal key and hook to direct water toward the Giant's Head Basin.
Team Operations and Safety Measures
Three teams of six people maintain the water displays, with one team working on each event day. Völker, who is 28 years old, learned the trade through practical experience from water master Philipp Heußner because no formal apprenticeship exists for the job. Völker described the work as a passion that brings some tension before large crowds, adding that he feels proud to stage the event.
Dry weather has not affected the displays this summer because water inflow continued until mid-May, though persistent drought in 2024 forced two-minute cuts at each station. Völker reported that locking the fountain lid shortly before the start is a safety rule, recalling an earlier incident where a stranger sat on the valve. While major accidents have been avoided, a visitor once had to help pull a stuck chain so the fountain could start on time.
