Is the admission free for the exhibition?

Yes, according to the official museum website, admission is free.

Where is the exhibition taking place?

At the Municipal Museum Braunschweig, House on Löwenwall, Steintorwall 14, 38100 Braunschweig.

What are the opening hours?

Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm.

Are there guided tours and educational offerings?

Yes, the museum offers public and bookable tours as well as audio guides for download or mobile internet.

Is the museum wheelchair accessible?

Generally yes, but due to the renovation of the elevator system in the Old Town Hall from 22.06.2026 to 11.08.2026, not all parts of the museum are wheelchair accessible.

Where can I find current information about the exhibition?

On the official website of the Municipal Museum Braunschweig under Exhibitions and Events.

An exhibition about origins, memory, and colonial traces at the Braunschweig Museum

Name: In the Beginning was the Belt - Braunschweig Ethnographica, Souvenirs & Colonial Trophies
Start: 2023-10-01T02:00:00+02:00
End: 2100-01-01T00:59:59+01:00
Location: Städtisches Museum Braunschweig

A museum experience between origins, memory, and colonial critique

With In the Beginning was the Belt, the Municipal Museum Braunschweig presents a permanent exhibition that goes far beyond a classic object display. In the house on Löwenwall, a reflective art experience unfolds that transforms ethnological collections, provenance issues, and the history of colonial contexts into an immersive exhibition atmosphere.

Objects with Biography

At the center are ethnographic objects, souvenirs, and colonial trophies whose stories are not only collected but critically questioned. The exhibition makes visible how things arrive in museums, what power dynamics have shaped their paths, and how meanings change over time. This shift in perspective brings special depth to the examination of the works.

Five Thematic Rooms as Intellectual Landmarks

The presentation is divided into the thematic rooms Connected, Travel Souvenirs, Images of the Other, Colonial Heritage, and Further Reflected. This structure provides a precise art historical and museum educational access: it connects collection history with global intertwining, material culture, and contemporary issues. Thus, the exhibition becomes an aesthetic experience that challenges both thinking and seeing.

Provenance, Dialogue, and Museum Responsibility

The Municipal Museum Braunschweig explicitly describes the redesign as a response to the demand for transparency regarding origins. Collaboration with communities of origin and the continuous development of the presentation represent a contemporary curation that does not claim museum authority but justifies it. For art and culture-interested visitors, this results in a rarely dense insight into ethnology, memory culture, and the ethical foundations of modern museum work.

Why a Visit is Worthwhile

In the Beginning was the Belt connects object stories with historical depth and current relevance. Those interested in exhibitions, cultural history, colonial provenance, and the future of museums will find a place for insight and aesthetic reflection here. A live visit is absolutely worthwhile, as only in the space, in the light, and in the silent presence of the objects does the full power of this presentation become palpable.