April 26, 2026 – May 2, 2027
Bilder, die wir lieben. 40 Jahre Kunsthalle Emden
Anniversary presentation of around 200 works from the collection, from Expressionism and New Objectivity to the present, which also tells the story of the museum itself.
Kunsthalle Emden
Art museum on Emden's Stadtgraben canal, endowed by Henri Nannen, featuring Expressionism, New Objectivity and post-1945 art, plus a large art school.
Opening hoursAdmission from €12.50 Wheelchair accessible Restaurant
Current exhibitions
August 15, 2026 – February 28, 2027
Große Buchstaben, grelle Farben. Schrift als Kunst – Kunst als Schrift
Contemporary painting and graffiti approaches to lettering in images, co-curated by the artist MadC, in the foyer, atrium and on the first floor.
October 3, 2026 – February 28, 2027
Rebellinnen
Works by women artists of the 1980s such as Rosemarie Trockel, Miriam Cahn and Elvira Bach, integrated into four rooms of the anniversary exhibition.
About the museum
The Kunsthalle Emden owes its existence to journalist Henri Nannen, founder and longtime editor-in-chief of the magazine Stern. Together with Eske, who later became his wife, he placed his collection, focused on classical modernism, into a foundation and largely paid for the building in his hometown out of his own pocket. The museum opened on October 3, 1986, in the presence of Federal President Richard von Weizsäcker.
Roughly ten years later, a substantial gift from Munich gallerist Otto van de Loo added post-1945 art, such as Art Informel and CoBrA, to the holdings and prompted an expansion. Over four construction phases in total, the last beginning in 2006, the Kunsthalle grew into a modern exhibition venue; the atrium with its large sawtooth skylights and the Tiffany Lounge are among its most distinctive spaces.
As one of the few privately run museums in Germany, the foundation earns a high share of its costs itself, but receives ongoing support from the state of Lower Saxony and the city of Emden. The museum is also known for its art education program: under the name kunst aktiv, its art school offers classes and workshops for children and adults.
For its 40th anniversary in 2026, the Kunsthalle is showing around 200 works from its own collection. According to the museum, more than 2.5 million visitors have come to over 150 special exhibitions in four decades.
Highlights
- Henri Nannen Collection with Expressionist works by artists including Beckmann, Nolde and Franz Marc
- New Objectivity and post-1945 art from the Otto van de Loo gift
- Tiffany Lounge with glasswork by Louis C. Tiffany
- kunst aktiv art school for children and adults
- Private boat landing on the Stadtgraben canal
- Founded
- 1986
- Operated by
- Stiftung Henri und Eske Nannen und Schenkung Otto van de Loo
- Director
- Silke Oldenburg und Ina Grätz (wissenschaftliche Direktion), Christian Rose (kaufmännischer Direktor)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €12.50 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €9Unemployed people, people with severe disabilities, school and university students up to age 35, federal volunteer service participants, military service members |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Children and teens under 18 free |
| Seniors | –No senior discount listed |
| Visitors with disabilities | €9 |
| Students & apprentices | €9Up to age 35 |
| Groups (10+ people) | €10 per personRegistration required. Group tours: 60 min €75, 90 min €95, plus admission; free admission for school classes. |
| Families | –No family ticket; children and teens free |
| Combined ticket Kunsthalle Emden / Ostfriesisches Landesmuseum Emden | €14Valid for 7 days |
| Public guided tour (Sundays and public holidays at 11:30) | €5Plus admission |
Free admission: Every first Tuesday of the month from 17:00 (late art evening); in 2026 also on Tide Tied dates 17:00–18:00
Members of the Freunde der Kunsthalle (friends' association) free. Headset system for groups with external guides €1 per person (mandatory).
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
Largely step-free; a few landings with three steps on the first floor can be bypassed via two elevators (floor plan available at the ticket desk). Wheelchair-accessible restroom in the basement. Loaner wheelchair, loaner rollator and portable seats. Two accessible parking spaces at the building. Certified under "Reisen für Alle" (Travel for All). Volunteer cultural companions (NETTWARK) for older people and people with disabilities.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 17 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Kids’ birthday parties
Family gallery along the tour with child-friendly texts, audio contributions created by children, and an art puzzle; children's audio guide. Sunday studio for ages 6 to 12, courses and workshops of the painting school, creative children's birthday parties. Free admission under 18.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Bahnhof Emden · 7-min walk
About a 7-minute walk from Emden station; the route from Bahnhofsplatz is signposted.
By car
Paid parking
No parking lot of its own; the Parkhaus Am Wasserturm and the Pottgießerstraße parking lot (both paid) are recommended. Two accessible parking spaces near the building. Tour buses stop at the Kunsthalle stop (Agterum); bus and RV parking via Emden Touristik.
- Accessible parking
Arrival by paddle boat via the canals to the museum's own boat landing in front of the building is also possible.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Restaurant
- Museum shop
- Coat check
- Lockers
- Wi-Fi
Museum café & restaurant Henri’s next to the Kunsthalle on the Stadtgraben. Museum shop in the foyer, accessible without admission. Free lockable bicycle boxes with charging facilities.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Private parties
- Corporate events
- Weddings / ceremonies
Up to 110 guests.
Atrium (100–110 seats in rows), meeting room (up to 40 people) and the Tiffany Lounge, an official wedding room of the city of Emden (25 guests). Exclusive use only outside opening hours.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes |
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Public tour on Sundays and public holidays at 11:30, online reservation recommended. Group tours of 60 or 90 minutes. Group and school tours via the visitor service (tel. 04921 975070, Mon–Fri 10:00–14:00); registration is required even for groups with their own guides. Digital offerings (Collection A–Z, children's audio guide) on your own smartphone or a loaner device. Only part of the collection is on display at any given time. |
