Museum Huelsmann

Current exhibitions

About the museum

The museum is based on the bequest of the Hamburg art dealers Friedrich Karl August and Gertrud Hülsmann. Friedrich Hülsmann came from Bielefeld and, together with his wife, had built up a business in Hamburg from 1938 dealing in European decorative arts, which after the war ranked among the leading names in the field. The childless couple left their collection to the city of Bielefeld on condition that it be preserved and shown to the public; it passed to the city in 1984.

The director's villa in the Ravensberger Park, built in 1865 and for more than a century the residence of the managers of the Ravensberger Spinnerei (spinning mill), was converted to house the collection. Museum Huelsmann opened in June 1995. On four floors, goldsmiths' work, silver, faience, porcelain, bronzes, tapestries and furniture are arranged in period rooms from the Renaissance to Neoclassicism; the basement holds scientific instruments including numerous sundials, a glass cabinet, a treasury and Asian art.

For the museum's tenth anniversary in 2005, the neighboring Turmvilla (tower villa) of 1852 was added, devoted to modernism and 20th-century design. Its upper floor now serves as a visible storage area that can be visited only in small groups by prior arrangement.

In addition to the permanent presentation, the museum shows up to two special exhibitions a year and places the historic pieces in new contexts through interventions. There are also workshops, a program for emerging artists from the Ostwestfalen-Lippe region, and civil wedding ceremonies in the Régence Room.

Highlights

• Decorative arts in period rooms from the Renaissance to Neoclassicism
• Collection of scientific instruments with numerous sundials
• Treasury and glass cabinet in the basement
• Visible storage of 20th-century design in the Turmvilla (by appointment)
• Free admission under 18; combination ticket with the Historisches Museum and the Naturkunde-Museum

Permanent exhibitions

• Sammlung Huelsmann in der Direktorenvilla – European decorative arts spanning around 400 years in period rooms, plus scientific instruments, a glass cabinet, a treasury and Asian art in the basement.
• Schaudepot Design in der Turmvilla – 20th-century design objects on the upper floor of the Turmvilla; visits only by appointment in small groups.

Founded

1995

Operated by

Stadt Bielefeld

Director

Dr. Elisabeth Schwarm

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Free for seniors on the first Wednesday of the month and for university students every Wednesday.

Free admission also for accompanied school classes, members of the Förderkreis (friends' association), holders of the Bielefeld-Pass and members of ICOM and the Deutscher Museumsbund.

Accessibility

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

The director's villa is fully accessible via a step-free side entrance and an elevator (including the wedding room on the second floor). For heritage protection reasons, the Turmvilla can be reached only by stairs.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

Free admission up to age 18. Vacation workshops for children and teens ages 9 and up; programs for daycares and school classes; day or week programs for private groups on request.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

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

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Weddings / ceremonies

Up to 20 guests.

Civil wedding ceremonies in the Régence Room (second floor) on the first and third Saturday of the month between 10:00 and 12:00, up to 20 guests; dates and fees via the Bielefeld registry office (Standesamt).

Plan your visit