Museum of Rhine navigation in the Schlossturm on Düsseldorf's Rhine riverfront – seven levels with ship models, simulators and a café with a view.
June 9, 2026 – October 25, 2026
Cabinet exhibition on the second floor marking the 200th anniversary of the Köln-Düsseldorfer Deutsche Rheinschiffahrt, in cooperation with KD and the Rheinisch-Westfälisches Wirtschaftsarchiv (Rhenish-Westphalian business archive).
The idea came from Düsseldorf harbor director Heinrich Etterich, who in the late 1920s wanted to show business partners the advantages of the Rhine ports. Together with the management of the Stadtgeschichtliches Museum (city history museum), he began building a collection in 1930 – the first ship model was bought in October – which soon covered the entire river and its tributaries and is one of the oldest of its kind on the Rhine. After an initial show for Harbor Day in 1936, a dedicated shipping museum opened in 1937 in the planetarium at Ehrenhof, the predecessor of today's Tonhalle concert hall.
During World War II the collection disappeared into storage and for decades afterward could only be seen in special exhibitions. A friends' association founded in 1954 campaigned for a permanent home, and in 1978 the city council decided to house it in the Schlossturm. The round corner tower from the 16th century is the last surviving above-ground building of Düsseldorf's Residenzschloss (residential palace). After a restoration to which citizens and companies contributed more than two million deutschmarks, the museum opened on January 14, 1984.
When the city wanted to close the museum in 1993 to save money, the friends' association took over its operation; in 2008 it returned to municipal management. After redesigns in 2001 and 2015, the permanent exhibition on seven levels – from the vaulted cellar to the lantern with its café – covers river regulation, shipbuilding, ports, ferries and Rhine journeys, with numerous hands-on stations. Longtime director Annette Fimpeler retired at the end of 2025.
| Adults | €5 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €2.50School students aged 21 and over, university students, FSJ (voluntary social year) participants, Ehrenamtskarte NRW (volunteer card) holders |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 20 · Children and young people under 21 get free admission. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freeFree admission for people with severe disabilities with a degree of disability of 80 or higher. |
| Students & apprentices | €2.50 |
| Groups (10+ people) | €2.50 per person |
Free admission also with the Art:card, Düsselpass or DüsseldorfCard, and for members of the Freundeskreis (friends' association), ICOM and the Deutscher Museumsbund. Payment in cash or by Girocard (German debit card).
Ten steps lead up to the entrance. The elevator is narrow, unsuitable for power wheelchairs and only goes up to the fourth floor; the lantern with its café and the lower levels can only be reached by stairs. Verified information according to the "Reisen für Alle" certification scheme.
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 20 |
|---|
Hands-on and interactive stations, including ship simulators. Regular Sunday tours for families with children aged 6 and up, special activities during school holidays; children's birthday parties with a treasure hunt through the tower and the Old Town (ages 6–12). Programs for daycare centers and schools.
Heinrich-Heine-Allee
Light rail U70–U79 and U83 as well as buses 780, 782 and 785 to Heinrich-Heine-Allee; bus 726 to Alter Hafen.
No on-site parking at the museum.
No dedicated parking; Grabbeplatz parking garage or Altstadt parking garage (access only via the Rheinufertunnel).
The Schlossturm stands on Burgplatz, right on the Rhine riverside promenade in the Old Town pedestrian zone.
Get directionsCafé in the "Laterne" (lantern) at the top of the tower with a panoramic view, cakes and, at lunchtime (12:00–15:00), small Italian dishes; access during opening hours with museum admission. Table reservations +49 211 8997586.
Up to 50 guests.
The lantern can be rented for private celebrations of up to 50 people in the evening from 19:00, with catering by the café operator; museum program elements on request.
Inquiries & details| Guided tours | yes · approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Public guided tour on changing topics usually on Sundays at 15:00, no registration needed. Group and special tours, also combined with a city tour, by arrangement about 14 days in advance. Short guides in German, English, French and Russian; exhibition texts throughout in German and English. |
All 13 museums in Düsseldorf All museums in North Rhine-Westphalia
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