LWL Industrial Museum in the former Hattingen ironworks, with the oldest blast furnace in the Ruhr region, blower hall, demonstration foundry and industrial nature.
From October 16, 2025
Workshop exhibition (announced to run until 2027) in which the museum reflects on its future together with the public: with a digital 3D model of the ironworks, the AI avatar "Andi", a timeline, outdoor theme cubes and a display case for mementos brought in by visitors.
The Henrichshütte was founded in 1854, when Count Henrich zu Stolberg-Wernigerode had the ore and coal deposits on the Ruhr near Hattingen exploited for a new ironworks; the works was named after its founder, who had died shortly before. Under changing owners – a Berlin bank, Henschel & Sohn of Kassel, Ruhrstahl AG, Rheinstahl and finally Thyssen – the plant grew into an integrated works supplying rails, wheel sets, heavy forgings and castings, and even reactor pressure vessels. It produced armaments in both world wars; during World War II, prisoners of war and forced laborers had to work here under harsh conditions.
With the steel crisis, the dismantling began in 1983. The announced shutdown of the blast furnaces in 1987 sparked broad protest in Hattingen, with a mass demonstration, a human chain and a hunger strike by women. Nevertheless, the last tapping took place on December 18, 1987; blast furnace 2 was later sold to China, and the remaining operations were gradually wound down by 2004.
In 1989, the Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe (LWL) took over the most important facilities, including blast furnace 3, commissioned in 1940, and made the ironworks a site of its industrial museum. Since 2000, visitors have been able to follow the "Path of Iron" from the ore bunker to the casting house. Later additions included trails on industrial nature, a demonstration foundry run by volunteers and a family playground. Since 2025, the workshop exhibition "Ans Werk!" has been testing, with visitor participation, how the museum will reposition itself in the future. The blast furnace is currently closed for restoration work.
| Adults | €5 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €3Recipients of benefits under SGB II/XII (German social code), university students up to age 30, apprentices, volunteer service participants, people with a disability rating (GdB) of 50 or more, holders of the Ehrenamtskarte NRW (volunteer card) |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Children and young people up to age 17 and school classes free |
| Seniors | –No senior discount listed |
| Visitors with disabilities | €3With a disability rating (GdB) of 50 or more |
| Students & apprentices | €3Up to age 30 |
| Groups (16+ people) | €4 per personAdults in groups; group tours from €45 plus admission |
| Families | –No family ticket; children up to age 17 free |
| Public guided tour "Eisen und Stahl" (Iron and Steel) | €2Surcharge on admission |
| Torchlight tour (October–March, once a month at 19:00) | €8Children 6–17 €3; registration required |
| LWL-MuseumsCard (annual pass, 31 LWL and LVR museums) | €50For two adults €70, reduced €15 |
Free admission: Free admission on selected special days, in 2026 e.g. International Museum Day, Heritage Open Day (Tag des offenen Denkmals) and Mouse Day (Maustag) on October 3
The prices shown are reduced because of the blast furnace closure. Free admission with the LWL-MuseumsCard, LVR-Museumskarte, a Deutscher Museumsbund or ICOM card, and once with the RuhrtopCard.
Certified under "Reisen für Alle" (Travel for All). Almost all visitor areas are at ground level or reachable via ramps and elevators; not all historic facilities are accessible. Six accessible parking spaces, three wheelchair-accessible restrooms (blower hall, multipurpose container), free loaner wheelchairs and walkers, short guide in Easy German (Leichte Sprache) at the ticket desk. Guided tours for people with limited mobility can be booked; public tours with sign language interpretation across LWL museums.
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 17 |
|---|
Award-winning ironworks playground "Rackerwerk" with a play blast furnace and giant slide; children's trail "Weg der Ratte" (Rat's Path) with models and hands-on stations; family adventure with the blue rat in the museum app. Holiday programs, workshops, and children's birthday parties.
Henrichshütte
From Bochum Hbf, bus 350 or SB 37 to "Henrichshütte"; from Hattingen Mitte (S3 from Essen Hbf), bus 554 to "Industriemuseum", SB 38 to "Werksstraße" or 350/SB 37 to "Henrichshütte". By bike via the RuhrtalRadweg (Ruhr Valley Cycle Route) (junction 86).
Six accessible parking spaces close to the museum entrance.
By car via the A 43, exit Witten-Herbede, then follow the "LWL-Industriemuseum" signs; GPS: Werksstraße 31, Hattingen.
Get directionsRestaurant "HENRICHS" in the Gaszentrale with a view into the historic hall (Tue–Sun 12:00–18:00), beer garden on the grounds. Museum shop Tue–Sun 10:00–18:00. Wi-Fi throughout the museum. Dogs on a leash allowed on the outdoor grounds (not on the playground), not in the buildings; service dogs excepted.
Up to 900 guests.
Event hall "Gaskraftwerk" (1,100 m², up to 900 guests, e.g. 350 banquet/800 theater seating) with meeting rooms "Atelier" and "Kabinett"; restaurant HENRICHS (500 m², banquets for 120–150 people) with two meeting rooms; catering is tied to the restaurant for hall events. Civil weddings April–October in the wedding room of the Übergabestation (transfer station) (up to 40 guests, with elevator).
Inquiries & details| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes (DE, EN, TR, NL) |
| School programs | yes |
| Photography | Private photos are welcome; commercial photography and shoots with models, vehicles, drones or props only by prior arrangement. |
| Good to know | Free museum app (German, English, Turkish, Dutch) with tours and a children's game; loan devices at the entrance. Public guided tour "Eisen und Stahl" Tue–Sun 11:30, plus Sat/Sun 15:00 (€2 plus admission, no registration needed); themed tours on Sundays, full-moon tours in summer. Adult groups of 6 or more must book a group tour (from €45; foreign languages including English). Tour offerings are being adjusted while the blast furnace is closed. |
All 6 museums in Hattingen All museums in North Rhine-Westphalia
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