On the roof sit penguins, goats, sheep, parrots, and a stone donkey. The Noah's Ark in Essen is one of around 12,000 drinking halls that exist today in the region. At Kommse anne Bude, you will learn how the Büdchen – also known as a drinking hall or Seltersbude – came to the area about 150 years ago and what has happened there over time. It has always been a popular meeting place: many have quenched their thirst here – whether with soft drinks or stronger beverages – listened to football games on the radio, bought cigarettes or sweets with money that was actually meant for other things, and of course, learned all the latest news. The many stories surrounding the Büdchen – humorous and sometimes more serious – also revive personal memories and provide an overview of the many years that the Büdchen has stood between the Ruhr and Emscher.