Daniel-Pöppelmann-Haus

About the museum

The Städtisches Museum Herford goes back to the museum of the Herforder Verein für Heimatkunde, founded in 1882, and is considered the oldest municipally run museum in Westphalia-Lippe. Since the 1940s it has been housed in Villa Schönfeld on the Deichtorwall, which the textile manufacturer Heinrich Schönfeld had built in Neo-Renaissance style from 1874 on the remains of a rondel of the city fortifications. Three generations of the family lived there before the city acquired the house in 1940.

From 1973 to 1975, a modern exhibition hall with distinctive trough roofs was built to plans by the architect Dieter Oesterlen, set into the museum garden. Today it serves mainly the Herforder Kunstverein for exhibitions of contemporary art. The complex bears the name of Matthäus Daniel Pöppelmann, the Dresden Zwinger architect who was born in Herford.

Because of urgent renovation needs, the villa was closed in 2004. After the exterior renovation, the museum showed a new city history exhibition on the first floor from 2016; after the interior renovation was completed and the upper floor was fitted out, it fully reopened in November 2023. The collection comprises about 25,000 objects, including holdings on the Herford noblewomen's convent, the local consumer goods industry, and Pöppelmann's copperplate engravings.

Highlights

• Permanent exhibition "1200 Jahre Stadtgeschichte" with hands-on stations
• Entrepreneur's villa of 1874/75, renovated in keeping with its landmark status
• Collection on the Herford noblewomen's convent (Damenstift)
• Copperplate engravings by Matthäus Daniel Pöppelmann
• Exhibition hall by Dieter Oesterlen with the Herforder Kunstverein

Permanent exhibitions

• 1200 Jahre Stadtgeschichte – Themed rooms on two floors of Villa Schönfeld, with many interactive elements, tell how Herford came into being and how its urban society has developed up to the present day.

Founded

1882

Operated by

Kultur Herford gGmbH

Director

Sonja Langkafel

Admission & discounts

The permanent city history exhibition in Villa Schönfeld is free. For special exhibitions: adults €4.50, reduced €2.50 (students and university students up to age 27, Jugendleitercard, volunteer services, recipients of social benefits, severely disabled people with a degree of disability of 50 or higher); companion with "B" marker free.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum complex sits on elevated ground on a former rondel of the city fortifications; the access path has a slope of 6.4%. The building has an elevator.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Kids’ birthday parties

The city history exhibition has many hands-on stations. Children's museum club "Samstagskids" (registration required), family afternoons, and holiday workshops; explorations with the museum suitcase. Children's birthday parties from age 6 (Tue–Sat from 14:00, up to 10 children, €100).

Getting there & parking

Via the A 2, exits Herford/Bad Salzuflen or Herford-Ost, into the city center.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Plan your visit