Literary museum and research center in Düsseldorf's Carlstadt district, with the world's only permanent exhibition on the life and work of Heinrich Heine.
September 26, 2026 – January 10, 2027
The exhibition looks at the relationship between football and literature: texts about the sport, authors as fans, writers who were once professional players, fan literature and children’s books. Visitors can write football texts themselves.
The Heinrich-Heine-Institut is an institution of the state capital Düsseldorf that combines a museum, archive, library and event venue. Its roots lie in the state and city library, which goes back to a foundation by Elector Karl Theodor and had existed since 1770 at the latest. After the book holdings were transferred to the university library, the manuscript department, with the Heine Archive and the Schumann Collection, remained in municipal custody.
In 1974 the institute left the war-damaged library building on Grabbeplatz and moved into the historic patrician house at Bilker Straße 14. For the city's anniversary in 1988, the neighboring house at number 12 was added. More than 70 percent of Heine's known manuscripts are held here today.
The permanent exhibition "Romantik und Revolution" (Romanticism and Revolution) covers about 180 square meters in nine rooms, with around 250 objects, including the manuscript of the "Loreley", a lock of hair, the portrait of Gottlieb Gassen and the death mask. Interactive stations, a literature lab and a listening and reading corner complement the chronologically arranged display. Special exhibitions are on the first floor.
| Adults | €5 |
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| Reduced | €2.50Pupils, students and trainees from age 21, groups of 10 or more, holders of the Düsseldorf Familienkarte (family card) and of the Ehrenamtskarte NRW (volunteer card of North Rhine-Westphalia) |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 20 · Children and young people up to their 21st birthday enter free. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · Free admission for people with severe disabilities and their companion, with a severe disability ID (Schwerbehindertenausweis) showing a degree of disability (Grad der Behinderung) of 80 or higher. |
| Students & apprentices | €2.50Pupils, students and trainees from their 21st birthday onward. |
| Groups (10+ people) | €2.50 per personReduced admission for groups of 10 or more. |
| Families | –Reduced admission with the Düsseldorf Familienkarte (family card). |
| Combined ticket for the Heine Institute and the Schumann House | €7.50reduced €4 |
Free admission with, among others, the Düsseldorf Welcome Card, Düsselpass, Art:Card, the Art:walk museum pass, and for members of the friends' groups (Freundeskreise), press representatives, and members of ICOM and the German Museums Association. Payment in cash or by card.
Two steps lead to the main entrance; by arrangement the building can be reached step-free through the rear entrance. The special exhibition rooms and the reading room are on the first floor; the permanent exhibition on the second floor is accessible only by stairs. Accessible parking spaces are across from the institute. Visitors with disabilities register by phone at 0211 8995571. Assistance dogs are allowed.
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 20 |
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The visit suits all ages. For children under 12, the institute recommends workshops such as printing and bookbinding (from age 8), and there are family programs on Sundays. Children's birthday parties with a bookbinding workshop are possible; the Biparcours app offers a detective walk for children from age 10.
Benrather Straße
Benrather Straße stop (U71, U72, U73, U83, and buses SB50, 780, 782, 785) and Carlsplatz stop (bus 726), both a few minutes away.
No on-site parking at the museum.
The institute has no parking spaces of its own. A parking garage is located at Carlsplatz, and accessible parking spaces are across from the institute.
The institute is on the southern edge of Düsseldorf's old town; Bilker Straße is reached via Carlsplatz.
Get directionsNo café in the building; the Carlstadt and the edge of the old town have many cafés and restaurants. Free Wi-Fi through a hotspot of the City of Düsseldorf.
The reading room can be rented; the Kulturamt (cultural office) of the City of Düsseldorf is responsible.
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | no |
| School programs | yes |
| Photography | Photos and films for non-private purposes only with prior permission. |
| Good to know | Public guided tours are announced in the events calendar; group tours (60–90 minutes) and city walks "Auf Heines Spuren" (On Heine's Trail) can be booked. Register by phone at 0211 8995571 or by email at anmeldungen-hhi@duesseldorf.de. There are no online tickets. The permanent exhibition does not yet have an audio guide. |
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