Glasmuseum Alter Hof Herding

Current exhibitions

About the museum

The museum goes back to the collecting passion of Lilly Ernsting (1930–2023), who gathered contemporary studio glass over about 50 years. Together with her husband Kurt Ernsting, she founded the glass museum at the Alter Hof Herding in 1996; this former Schulzenhof (village mayor's farm) in Coesfeld-Lette had been saved from demolition by the couple in 1976. The sponsor is the Ernsting Stiftung Alter Hof Herding (Ernsting Foundation).

The museum building of 1996 stands on the foundations of the former tithe barn and was built in a sober style from Ibbenbüren sandstone. A passage connects it with the Alte Tenne (Old Threshing Floor), a four-post building from 1743, where part of the collection is on view. In changing exhibitions, the museum shows contemporary European glass art and presents new trends; each exhibition year begins with the previous year's acquisitions.

In 2006, the glass depot in the neighboring Höltingshof was added, a display collection where visitors can see the entire holdings of over 2,000 works. The collection covers all techniques, from utility glass to autonomous sculpture, and from miniatures to monumental works.

Highlights

• Contemporary European glass since the 1970s
• Glass depot Höltingshof as a walk-through display collection with over 2,000 works
• Alte Tenne (four-post building from 1743) with part of the collection
• Glass garden on the museum grounds

Permanent exhibitions

• Glasdepot Höltingshof – Display collection in the neighboring Höltingshof, where the entire glass collection is shown in chronologically arranged cases.
• Alte Tenne – Glass objects from the years 1970 to 2003 are shown in cases in the historic four-post building of the Alter Hof Herding.

Founded

1996

Operated by

Ernsting Stiftung Alter Hof Herding

Admission & discounts

Admission is a combined ticket for the glass museum and the Glasdepot Höltingshof.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom: not available
• 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 main entrance is at ground level, and a wheelchair-accessible elevator leads to the upper exhibition level. No accessible toilet is available.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The museum gives "Geer / Kreuzung Letter Berg" as the navigation destination.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit