Hetjens – Deutsches Keramikmuseum

Current exhibitions

About the museum

The museum is named after Düsseldorf native Laurenz Heinrich Hetjens (1830–1906), who started out as a journeyman saddler, prospered as a technical director in Aachen, and later devoted himself entirely to collecting and researching Rhenish stoneware. In his will he left his collection and fortune to his hometown – on condition that a museum bearing his name be built promptly. The Hetjens-Museum opened in 1909 in an annex to the Kunstpalast on the Rhine.

After the city's collections were reorganized in connection with the GeSoLei exhibition of 1926, it became a museum specializing in ceramics, taking over the ceramic holdings of the dissolved Kunstgewerbemuseum (museum of applied arts). When space ran out, the museum moved in 1969 into the Baroque Palais Nesselrode on Schulstraße, which had been reconstructed after the war. An extension, shared with the Filmmuseum, was added in 1994.

Today the Hetjens presents the history of ceramics in twelve departments on four floors, from early vessels through ancient, pre-Columbian, and Islamic ceramics, faience, majolica, and porcelain to contemporary studio ceramics. The museum also has a pottery workshop and a conservation department, and it looks after the Sammlung Ernst Schneider at Schloss Jägerhof. A museum café is currently being built in the east wing of the palais.

Highlights

• Ceramics from some 8,000 years and every continent
• Rhenish stoneware from the founding collection of Hetjens
• Reconstructed Islamic ceramic dome from Pakistan
• Porcelain, faience, and majolica as well as contemporary studio ceramics
• Housed in the Baroque Palais Nesselrode with its inner courtyard

Permanent exhibitions

• Keramik aus 8000 Jahren – Twelve departments on four floors lead from early vessels through antiquity, pre-Columbian and Islamic ceramics to porcelain and contemporary studio ceramics; some areas are closed during the renovation.

Founded

1909

Operated by

Landeshauptstadt Düsseldorf

Director

Dr. Daniela Antonin

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Free admission on Sundays.

During construction (expected until early 2027), "pay what you want" applies instead of the regular admission of €5 (reduced €2.50). Free admission with, among others, the Düsselpass, Düsseldorf Welcome Card/Düsselcard, and Art:card, and for members of the friends' association, the DMB (German Museums Association), and ICOM.

Accessibility

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

According to the museum, the building is accessible (details from "Reisen für Alle"), but accessibility is only partly ensured during the café construction. Assistance dogs allowed.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Kids’ birthday parties

Combined guided experiences with a workshop component for children's groups, and children's courses in the pottery workshop. Children's birthday parties (2 hrs, max. 10 children, for ages 5–7, 6–11, or 11 and up depending on the program) in the pottery workshop at Citadellstraße 3. Free admission up to age 21.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Café: not available
• Museum shop
• Lockers
• Wi-Fi

A museum café in the east wing is under construction. Museum shop in the entrance area (catalogs, ceramics literature). Lockers with a €1 or €2 deposit. Wi-Fi via the city hotspot.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Weddings / ceremonies

Civil wedding ceremonies in the Bel Etage (couple plus up to 27 guests, Friday mornings from January to November, additional costs from €400), with a champagne reception in the inner courtyard. Due to the café construction, no events or weddings are currently being held.

Plan your visit