In the Beginning Was the Belt at Städtisches Museum Braunschweig: Experience Ethnographica and Colonial History

A look at colonial collections, provenance, and museum responsibility

The new permanent exhibition In the Beginning Was the Belt – Braunschweig Ethnographica, Souvenirs & Colonial Trophies at the Städtisches Museum Braunschweig puts the museum's ethnological collection in the spotlight and combines work observation with critical historical education. The museum explicitly refers to questions of provenance and colonial historically burdened objects; at the same time, the exhibition is part of the permanent exhibition in the House at Löwenwall. ([braunschweig.de](https://www.braunschweig.de/kultur/museen/staedtisches-museum/))

Objects with Biography Instead of Mere Display Pieces

The presentation makes ethnographic items readable not as exotic curiosities but as testimonies of travel, appropriation, exchange, and power. The engagement with the patron belt of Kahimemua Nguvauva from present-day Namibia demonstrates how much museum objects can make historical relationships visible. This opens up an art experience between materiality, political memory, and aesthetic experience. ([braunschweig.die-region.de](https://braunschweig.die-region.de/veranstaltungen-detailseite/event/101140961/am-anfang-war-der-gurt-braunschweiger-ethnographica-souvenirs-koloniale-trophaeen/))

The Museum as a Place of Contextualization

The Städtisches Museum Braunschweig is one of the significant municipal museums in Northern Germany and presents art and cultural historical as well as ethnological collections in the House at Löwenwall. For visitors, this creates a space where curation is not only presented but also explained and questioned. Tours and audio tours deepen the cultural historical perspective and make the house attractive for educational offerings. ([braunschweig.de](https://www.braunschweig.de/kultur/museen/staedtisches-museum/))

Atmosphere Between Research and Public Debate

The exhibition gains its tension from the interplay of object, context, and responsibility. The museum itself formulates a clear position on colonial-burdened collections and refers to the Zurich Declaration, where museum ethics and provenance research are central themes. Those walking through the rooms here experience not a decorative display, but a reflected form of cultural education. ([braunschweig.de](https://www.braunschweig.de/kultur/museen/staedtisches-museum/))

Visit, Service, and Accessibility

The museum is located in the House at Löwenwall, Steintorwall 14 in 38100 Braunschweig, and is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 11 AM to 5 PM. The available information describes the house as barrier-free; at the same time, the museum currently points out a temporary restriction of accessibility in the Altstadtrathaus, but not in the House at Löwenwall. Admission is free. ([braunschweig.de](https://www.braunschweig.de/kultur/museen/staedtisches-museum/kontakt.php))

In the end, the exhibition presents not only historical objects but also allows for a precise look at origins, interpretations, and responsibilities. Those interested in art history, ethnology, and museum practices should firmly plan this visit: Here, collection history becomes a living, clever, and urgent cultural event. ([braunschweig.de](https://www.braunschweig.de/kultur/museen/staedtisches-museum/))

Official Channels of Städtisches 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 - Städtisches Museum Braunschweig
• City of Braunschweig - Your Visit & Contact
• The Region Braunschweig - Event In the Beginning Was the Belt
• City of Braunschweig - Collection Non-European Ethnology