The oldest LWL museum, on the Aasee lake in Münster: natural history exhibitions, a state paleontology exhibition, and a large planetarium with a 20-meter dome.
July 10, 2026 – September 5, 2027
State paleontology exhibition in the modernized hall: finds from North Rhine-Westphalia such as the predatory dinosaur Wiehenvenator, a walk-through Devonian reef diorama, and a large projected "paleo-aquarium."
June 21, 2024 – January 10, 2027
Family-friendly show covering around 850 square meters on how genetic information works and shapes the diversity of living things.
The museum was founded in 1892 as the Westfälisches Provinzialmuseum für Naturkunde, making it the oldest institution of today's Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe (LWL, the regional authority for Westphalia-Lippe). The driving force was zoologist Hermann Landois, who had also founded Münster's zoo and initially ran the museum on a voluntary basis. The first building stood on Himmelreichallee next to the zoo of that time. It was badly damaged in air raids in the fall of 1944, but the collections, which had been moved elsewhere beforehand, survived.
As early as 1965, the LWL decided to integrate a large planetarium into a new building on Sentruper Straße near the Aasee – a combination that was new in Germany at the time. The planetarium, with a dome 20 meters in diameter, opened in November 1981, followed by the exhibitions in 1982; the old building has since been used by a music school. The star dome has been renovated several times: it received fulldome projection in 2010 and was remodeled again in 2021/22.
With around 2.3 million objects, the museum holds the largest natural history collection in Westphalia. Its responsibilities also include paleontological heritage protection for Westphalia-Lippe and the branch sites Heiliges Meer near Recke and Kahler Asten near Winterberg. Jan Ole Kriegs has headed the museum since 2016. Since 2024, a "Forum für Naturwissenschaften" (Forum for Natural Sciences) for professional and volunteer researchers has been under construction on the forecourt; in July 2026 the modernized paleontology hall reopened with a state exhibition.
| Adults | €9 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €4.50University students up to age 30, trainees, recipients of benefits under SGB II and XII (German social welfare codes), volunteer service participants, people with a degree of disability of 50 or more, vocational school classes |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Children and teens under 18 get free admission to the exhibitions; planetarium €4. Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. |
| Seniors | –No senior discount listed. |
| Visitors with disabilities | €4.50companion free · Reduced admission with a degree of disability of 50 or more; companion admitted free with "B" marker. |
| Students & apprentices | €4.50University students up to age 30. |
| Groups (16+ people) | €8 per personFrom 16 people. School classes and daycare groups: children free, two accompanying adults free. |
| Families | –No family ticket; children and teens get free admission to the exhibitions. |
| Planetarium (per show) | €10Reduced €5.50, children and teens €4, groups of 16 or more €9. |
| Combined ticket exhibition + planetarium | €17Reduced €8.50, groups of 16 or more €16. |
| LWL-MuseumsCard Single (annual pass for 36 LWL and LVR museums) | €50Reduced €15; members of DMB/ICOM and cardholders get free admission to the exhibitions. |
| LWL-MuseumsCard "Ich & Du" (Me & You) | €70For up to 2 adults per visit. |
Ehrenamtskarte NRW (volunteer card): 50% off single tickets for the exhibitions and planetarium (not for evening and special events).
The entire exhibition area is wheelchair-accessible; free loaner wheelchairs at the ticket desk, folding stools available in the building, restroom reachable via ramp. Accessible parking spaces in the zoo parking lot (route about 200 m longer due to construction). Tactile maps, touch objects, and Braille, audio guide with audio description, guided tour "Tastend durch die Genetik" (exploring genetics by touch); induction loop in the planetarium, neck loops for the audio guide; regular guided tours in German Sign Language.
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 17 |
|---|
Monthly family workshops on Saturdays (ages 6–8 and up, with an accompanying adult), holiday programs without registration (including gene lab, museum garden, fossil hunting), children's working groups, and planetarium shows for children. Children under 14 only with adults; planetarium from age 4 only.
Zoo/Naturkundemuseum
Bus 14 from the main station to the terminus Zoo/Naturkundemuseum (Saturdays and during the NRW summer holidays every 20 minutes); April–October solar boat "Solaaris" from the Aaseeterrassen/Goldene Brücke via the Mühlenhof to the Allwetterzoo/Naturkundemuseum landing.
Parking available
Shared paid parking lot with the Allwetterzoo (€5 per day, first 30 minutes free, license plate recognition) with motorhome spaces and about 20 bus spaces, accessible parking spaces, and EV charging stations (area P3). Free parking nearby, e.g., at the Mühlenhof open-air museum.
GPS: Sentruper Straße 285, follow signs for "Zoo/Naturkundemuseum". Because of construction work, the entrance is currently on the Aasee side (the walk is about 200 m longer). Bicycle racks, lockers, and an e-bike charging station at the museum.
Get directionsNo bistro during the construction phase: break area for food you bring yourself, beverage and ice cream vending machines, and at times a coffee bike. Museum shop (also online). Backpacks are not allowed in the exhibitions.
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes |
| School programs | yes |
| Photography | Private photography allowed without flash or tripod; photography and filming are prohibited in the planetarium. |
| Good to know | Free public guided tour on Sundays at 14:30 (plus admission). Group tours (currently max. 15 people): €30 per hour plus admission, book through the service office. Book planetarium tickets online if possible. Food and drink are not allowed in the exhibitions or the planetarium. |
All 14 museums in Münster All museums in North Rhine-Westphalia
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