Kiel University's art museum on the Kiel Fjord, with art from Dürer's time to the present; closed for renovation, probably until the end of 2029.
September 16, 2026 – November 29, 2026
At the Kiel Landeshaus, historical photos and documents look back on the history of the museum building, accompanied by works from the collection on architecture and building from the late 19th century to the present.
Special exhibition
Twelve selected paintings from Kiel, including works by Emil Nolde, Karl Schmidt-Rottluff and Asger Jorn, are integrated into the collection display of the Museumsberg Flensburg for about five years.
The Kunsthalle zu Kiel owes its existence to the efforts of the Schleswig-Holsteinischer Kunstverein (art association), founded in 1843 and still based in the building. Its site on Düsternbrooker Weg was made possible by a bequest from Kiel resident Charlotte “Lotte” Hegewisch. Based on designs by Georg Thür and developed further by Georg Lohr, a classic daylight museum was built; it opened in 1909 and stands on elevated ground above the fjord next to the Schlossgarten.
The building was badly damaged in World War II and did not reopen to the public until 1958; August Gaul's bison sculptures in front of the entrance survived the destruction. For a long time the museum was headed by whoever held the chair of art history; since 1971 the Kunsthalle has been an independent institution of the Christian-Albrechts-Universität. An extension by Diethelm Hoffmann was added in 1986, and in 2012 a new entrance area by Sunder-Plassmann Architekten with a view of the fjord.
The collection comprises some 1,100 paintings, 300 sculptures, around 30,000 works on paper, as well as photography and video, with a focus on 19th-century art, Expressionism and international contemporary art. Under its own management, the museum also houses the university's collection of antiquities. The Kunsthalle has been closed since September 25, 2023, for a renovation costing around €60 million that includes a new café facing the Schlossgarten; completion is scheduled for the end of 2029. In the meantime, it shows parts of its collection at guest venues such as the Kiel Landeshaus and the Museumsberg Flensburg.
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Great for kids & families
During the renovation, the Kunsthalle offers holiday programs and multi-session courses in drawing, experimenting, and printmaking at changing locations for children aged 6 to 14.
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Free public guided tours in the Landeshaus exhibition (dates in the website calendar). Educational programs and events together with the Schleswig-Holsteinischer Kunstverein at external venues. |
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