In the Beginning was the Belt at the Municipal Museum Braunschweig: rethinking origin

A museum experience about origin, memory, and colonial traces

The permanent exhibition In the Beginning was the Belt at the Municipal Museum Braunschweig opens an unusually precise view of ethnological collections, provenance research, and the history of colonial contexts. In the House at Löwenwall, visitors encounter objects that are not only collected but also questioned: about origin, path, and significance.

Ethnographica as testimonies of a moving collection history

The presentation does not rely on decorative display, but on insight. It tells about Braunschweig sailors, merchants, doctors, soldiers, researchers, early tourists, and emigrants who have gathered objects from different regions. Central to this is the patron belt of the OvaMbanderu leader Kahimemua from present-day Namibia, a key object of the exhibition and a symbol for the engagement with colonial removals and museum responsibility. ([braunschweig.de](https://www.braunschweig.de/kultur/museen/staedtisches-museum/artikelpool-temporaer/ethno-dauerausstellung.php))

Five thematic rooms, many perspectives

The exhibition is divided into the thematic rooms Connected, Travel Souvenirs, Images of the Other, Colonial Heritage, and Further Reflected. This structure makes the artwork examination an aesthetic and historical experience at the same time. Visitors experience a curation that does not show objects in isolation, but as part of relationships, power dynamics, and knowledge systems. ([braunschweig.de](https://www.braunschweig.de/kultur/museen/staedtisches-museum/artikelpool-temporaer/ethno-dauerausstellung.php))

A vibrant, process-oriented museum

Particularly impressive is the open character of the exhibition: The Municipal Museum understands the exhibition as a dynamic ensemble that is continuously supplemented by discussions with source communities. This creates an artistic experience that connects transparency, cultural education, and critical reflection. Those interested in museum pedagogy, colonial history, and the responsibility of modern museums will find an exceptionally relevant place here. ([braunschweig.de](https://www.braunschweig.de/kultur/museen/staedtisches-museum/artikelpool-temporaer/ethno-dauerausstellung.php))

Visit, access, and atmosphere

The Municipal Museum Braunschweig is located in the House at Löwenwall, Steintorwall 14, 38100 Braunschweig. According to the official statements, the museum is fully accessible; the regular opening hours are Tuesday to Sunday from 11 AM to 5 PM. During the elevator modernization in the Old Town Hall, there will be temporary restrictions at other locations in the museum, however, the House at Löwenwall remains unaffected as a central exhibition site in the sense of an easily accessible cultural space. ([braunschweig.de](https://www.braunschweig.de/politik_verwaltung/nachrichten/medien/292316P.pdf))

Conclusion

In the Beginning was the Belt is not merely a display of objects, but a smart, sensually dense, and historically responsible exhibition about collection, origin, and memory. Those who wish to experience Braunschweig's museum culture in its full depth should visit this place live: for an artwork examination that resonates, for new perspectives on ethnological collections, and for an artistic experience that remains in memory for a long time. ([braunschweig.de](https://www.braunschweig.de/kultur/museen/staedtisches-museum/artikelpool-temporaer/ethno-dauerausstellung.php))

Official channels of the Municipal Museum Braunschweig:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/staedtischesmuseumbraunschweig/
• Facebook: no official profile found
• YouTube: no official profile found
• Website: https://www.braunschweig.de/kultur/museen/staedtisches-museum/

Sources:

• City of Braunschweig - In the Beginning was the Belt
• City of Braunschweig - Your Visit & Contact
• City of Braunschweig - Municipal Museum Braunschweig
• City of Braunschweig - Accompanying Program for the Special Exhibition PDF
• Friends of the Municipal Museum Braunschweig - New Permanent Exhibition
• Braunschweig the Region - Event Page