Museums in Düsseldorf

Museums in Düsseldorf

Focus on art

The focus of Düsseldorf’s museum landscape is on art. In addition to a picture gallery, collections with sculpture and applied arts, and modern art, the Museum Kunstpalast close to the Rhine also contains the Prints and Drawings Department and the Hentrich Glass Museum. The Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen (North Rhine-Westphalia Art Collection) includes works of art from the 20th and 21st centuries. The Kunsthalle (Art Gallery) with the “Art Association for the Rhineland and Westphalia” is located in the immediate vicinity of the K20 in Düsseldorf’s Old Town – a visit is an absolute must for fans of contemporary art.

A museum with an extremely specialised form of art is also housed in the Old City: the Hetjens-Museum. From African and South-American ritual vessels, through Bellarmine Jars from Siegburg, to the finest porcelain from Meissen and Sèvres – the Hetjens museum is the only institute in the world, which collects and exhibits the history of ceramics from its beginnings to the present day – across all cultures and through all periods.

Another specialised museum is the KIT, Kunst im Tunnel (Art in the Tunnel), directly under Düsseldorf’s Rhine promenade. The spectacular museum for contemporary art has been ‘hidden’ there since 2007. It is located in a room, which is situated between the tunnel tubes for motor traffic, and exhibits young art by graduates from the Düsseldorf Academy of Arts in particular.

Looking back on the history of the city

The focus of the Stadtmuseum (City Museum) is firmly on the city’s history. The collections exhibit the history, culture and art of the city of Düsseldorf and its regions – from prehistory and early history, through different periods of the city’s history, to the present day – over three floors. The SchifffahrtMuseum (Maritime Museum) in the Schlossturm (Castle Tower) on Burgplatz deals primarily with inland shipping and the Rhine. If you manage to make it right to the top of the Castle Tower, you can enjoy a coffee or whatever takes your fancy in the café with wonderful views.

The Mahn- und Gedenkstätte (Memorial to Victims of the Nazi Regime) in the Old Town recalls the period of National Socialism in Düsseldorf. The museum provides information on persecution and resistance between 1933 and 1945 and focuses mainly on the fate of children and young people.

Lovers of nature should make their way to the Benrather Schloss palace. Visitors can learn about the parks and gardens and the animal and plant world of the region in the Museum für Europäische Gartenkunst (European Horticultural Art Museum) and in the Naturkunde-Museum (Natural History Museum). The aim of the Aquazoo/Löbbecke Museums in the northern part of Düsseldorf is to scientifically document flora and fauna and convey the fascination which it involves. The combination of animal shows and scientific collections have made the museum one of the most popular destinations in the city for a day out. (Currently closed due to renovation works!)

Discover the exciting world of film

As an interactive museum, the Filmmuseum Düsseldorf (Film Museum) provides an exciting insight into the world of film from its earliest beginnings to the present day. The exhibition of the film museum presents many different items – from costumes and placards, through film cameras and projectors, to the film studio. In addition to its permanent exhibition, the Film Museum also has its own “Black Box” cinema where film events are regularly hosted.

The Neanderthal Museum is situated in Mettmann in the surrounding area of Düsseldorf. In 1856, workers found the skeleton of a prehistoric man, who later became world-famous as the “Neanderthal Man”. The museum collection deals with the close relatives of present-day humans and exhibits the development of humankind. There are also historical objects to touch: in the Stone Age workshop, visitors can “get a feel for” archaeological objects and ancient materials.

Düsseldorf is not just the city of dark beer – it is also a mustard city. A small mustard museum (Berger Straße 29) has thus also been part of the museum landscape of the city since 2004. You can find out everything you need to know about the classic mustard.