Käthe-Kruse-Puppen-Museum

About the museum

Käthe Kruse first exhibited her handmade, child-friendly cloth dolls in Berlin in 1910 and became famous overnight. After the Second World War, the Käthe Kruse workshops moved from Bad Kösen to Donauwörth, where dolls in her tradition are still made today.

The museum opened in 1993. Its basis was a donation of large parts of the private collection of Hanne Adler-Kruse, a daughter of the doll maker, and Heinz Adler, on the condition that a museum be established. It is housed in the town's former Capuchin monastery.

In 2014 the town and the Käthe Kruse Manufaktur jointly took over the collection of the Dutch doll and toy museum in Den Helder; sponsorships have since been taken on for many of these dolls. In 2024 a foundation was also established, whose proceeds finance acquisitions, restorations, and research for the benefit of the museum.

The permanent exhibition shows dolls, dollhouse dolls, and shop window figures from all phases of the manufactory, complemented by a film on production and regularly changing studio and special exhibitions on individual aspects of doll history. The Werner-Egk-Begegnungsstätte (meeting place) is on the upper floor, and a visit is included in the admission.

Highlights

• Over 150 Käthe Kruse dolls from 1910 to today
• Life-size shop window figures
• Film on doll making
• Riemersma collection from Den Helder
• Werner-Egk-Begegnungsstätte on the upper floor

Permanent exhibitions

• Käthe-Kruse-Puppen – Dolls, dollhouse dolls, and shop window figures from the manufactory from its beginnings around 1910 to today, complemented by a film on production.
• Werner-Egk-Begegnungsstätte – Meeting place on the upper floor of the museum; the visit is included in the admission.

Founded

1993

Operated by

Stadt Donauwörth

Director

Anja Hollands

Admission & discounts

Admission includes the Werner-Egk-Begegnungsstätte. Free admission, among others, for holders of the Juleica and the Ehrenamtskarte of the Donau-Ries district as well as members of the German Museums Association, ICOM, the Verband Deutscher Kunsthistoriker, and the Freundeskreis Haus der Bayerischen Geschichte. Group tour €25 plus admission, for fewer than 10 people flat rate €45 including admission.

Accessibility

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

Accessible entrance via the inner courtyard, the permanent exhibition is wheelchair-accessible; people with disabilities park for free in front of the inner courtyard. Tours in plain language with materials to touch; for guests with walking difficulties, chairs are provided on request.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

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

Free museum rallies are available at the ticket desk. Family tours, children's birthday parties with a craft program, and small theater plays for families can be booked; on museum Sundays there are creative activities. Strollers can be left in the foyer.

Getting there & parking

By car, follow the signs toward the city center; the museum is on Pflegstraße opposite the Protestant church.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Coat check

Museum shop with books, souvenirs, and dolls from Käthe Kruse GmbH. Coat check and umbrella stand in the foyer; backpacks and larger bags are not allowed in the exhibition. Bicycles can be parked in the inner courtyard, and dogs tied up there.

Events & venue rental

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

Plan your visit