Duisburg museums offer a nice collection of art and history. Whether you’re interested in the harbor life of old Duisburg, or want to check out some avant-garde paintings and sculptures, there is a museum and/or gallery for you here.
Duisburg Museums
Kultur- und Stadthistorisches Museum (Culture and City Historical Museum)
The Culture and City Historical Museum (Johannes-Corputius-Platz 1) is the go-to place for learning about Duisburg’s rich heritage. This Duisburg museum showcases many items from the city’s history, all the way back to the Stone Age. Its second purpose is to give a glimpse of the everyday life of a Duisburger.
One of the highlights is the works of a famous native son — the cartographer Gerhard Mercator who died in 1594. Come see for yourself if you seek a deeper understanding of this interesting German city.
Museum der Deutschen Binnenschifffahrt (Museum of Inland Navigation)
As the site of an inland port, Duisburg is the natural place for a Museum of Inland Navigation (Apostelstraße 84). This Duisburg museum was actually once an indoor swimming pool but was renovated and is now presented in an Art Nouveau design. The museum offers an idea of the life of a sailor. Inside you’ll find model ships as well as real ones.
The Oscar Huber, a paddle steamer from 1921, and the Minden, a bucket dredger from 1882, are both docked within a few minutes walk of the museum. If you have your heart set on visiting these interesting ships, be sure to check the weather. In very cold and icy conditions, the boats are closed to the public.
Duisburg Galleries
WLM Wilhelm Lehmbruck Museum
The WLM Wilhem Lehmbruck Museum (Friedrich-Wilhelm-Straße 40) was founded in 1929 and features a fine selection of international sculpture from the last century. The inner museum also showcases modern paintings in its 5,000 square meters of exhibition space.
Most of Wilhelm Lehmbruck’s own works are on display in this eponymous museum, along with an additional 200 artists from 20 different countries.
MKM Museum Küppersmühle für moderne Kunst (Museum for Modern Art)
This modern art museum is popular not only for what’s inside it, but also its interesting and unique exterior. The Museum for Modern Art (Philosophenweg 55), housed in a twentieth century brick building, features some important works of modern art.
You can find it in the area of the Duisburg Inner Harbor.
