Arbeitskreis Kluterthöhle

The Arbeitskreis Kluterthöhle e.V. (AKKH) is a non-profit cave research and conservation association headquartered in Ennepetal, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It was founded on 30 March 1976 as a sub-organization of the Verkehrsverein Ennepetal e.V., initially tasked with the speleological care of the Kluterthöhle. In 1984 it became an independent registered association under the name "Arbeitskreis Kluterthöhle e.V. gemeinnütziger Verein mit Sitz in Ennepetal." The association has around 160 members and is chaired by Stefan Voigt. The AKKH is active in scientific cave research, environmental and cave protection, and bat conservation. It has discovered over seven kilometres of new caves beneath Ennepetal since 1980 and has conducted expeditions outside North Rhine-Westphalia since 1984, researching in the Alps, Syria, Romania, Cambodia, France, Lebanon, and Oman. Since 1991, the city of Ennepetal has commissioned the association to research caves and karst within its municipal area; similar contracts with other cities and districts followed. The association currently manages over 300 caves in the West Sauerland and Bergisches Land regions, including show caves such as the Kluterthöhle, Wiehler Tropfsteinhöhle, and Aggertalhöhle, as well as caves not open to the public such as the Heilenbecker Höhle, Bismarckhöhle, Blätterhöhle, the Hardthöhlen, and the Windloch im Mühlenberg. It has sealed over 100 caves to prevent pollution, destruction, and accidents. Its work is supported by scientific institutes and authorities, and it collaborates with local companies for heavy equipment and logistics. The AKKH celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2026.

The Arbeitskreis Kluterthöhle was founded on 30 March 1976 as a sub-organization of the Verkehrsverein Ennepetal e.V., with the primary task of providing speleological care for the Kluterthöhle. From the beginning, the founders intended to extend their research beyond the Kluterthöhle. In 1984, the group separated from the Verkehrsverein and became an independent registered non-profit association under the name "Arbeitskreis Kluterthöhle e.V. gemeinnütziger Verein mit Sitz in Ennepetal." Since 1984, the association has also conducted expeditions outside North Rhine-Westphalia, researching in the Alps, Syria, Romania, Cambodia, France, Lebanon, and Oman. Starting in 1980, the association intensively searched for new caves in Ennepetal and discovered over seven kilometres of new caves beneath the city over the following 30 years. Since 1991, the city of Ennepetal has commissioned the association to research caves and karst within its municipal area. Contracts with other cities in the region for individual caves or entire areas followed, including commissions from the cities of Wuppertal and Engelskirchen, the Rhein-Sieg-Kreis, the Oberbergischer Kreis, the city of Schwelm, and the city of Hagen. Today the association manages over 300 caves in the West Sauerland and Bergisches Land regions. It is officially commissioned by the Geologischer Dienst NRW, the Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis, the Oberbergischer Kreis, and the cities of Ennepetal, Hagen, Schwelm, Wuppertal, and Engelskirchen to carry out the care and research of entire karst areas and individual caves. In addition, many care contracts exist with companies and private individuals. The association has sealed over 100 caves to prevent pollution and destruction and to protect inexperienced visitors from accidents. It also conducts bat conservation and carries out clean-up and planting actions in caves, dolines, karst landscapes, and ponors. The AKKH celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2026.

• Founded as a sub-organization of the Verkehrsverein Ennepetal e.V.

• Began intensive search for new caves in Ennepetal.

• Became an independent registered non-profit association.

• Started expeditions outside North Rhine-Westphalia.

• Commissioned by the city of Ennepetal to research caves and karst in the municipal area.

• Celebrated 50th anniversary.

Non-profit cave research and conservation association

1. 1Startseite - Arbeitskreis Kluterthöhle e.V.akkh.de
2. 2Vereinsprofil - Arbeitskreis Kluterthöhle e.V.akkh.de
3. 3Arbeitskreis Kluterthöhle - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
4. 4Arbeitskreis Kluterthöhle - Wikidatawikidata.org