Spielzeugmuseum Trier

About the museum

The Spielzeugmuseum Trier goes back to the collecting passion of Rolf Scheurich, who collected toys, and his wife Heidi, who collected dolls. Since the 1950s they gathered what today amounts to around 5,000 exhibits from more than a hundred years of toy history. On May 1, 1989, they opened the museum on Nagelstraße in Trier; at the time it was the largest privately run museum of its kind in Germany. In 2000 the collection was sold, and it has since been run by an association founded to preserve it.

In October 2003 the museum moved into the Steipe, a historic building on Trier's Hauptmarkt; the main entrance is on Dietrichstraße. On display were dolls and dollhouses, tin toys with cars, trains and animal figures, building sets, rocking horses and steam engines from about 1880 to 1970, along with insights into the history of well-known brands such as Lehmann, Märklin and Schuco. The oldest piece is a dancing bear by the French manufacturer Fernand Martin.

The main attraction was a small-town setting with movable Steiff animals that came to life at every full and half hour. According to the Museumsportal Rheinland-Pfalz (Rhineland-Palatinate museum portal), the museum is closed until further notice.

Highlights

• Small-town scene with movable Steiff animals
• More than 5,000 exhibits from about 1880 to 1970
• Tin toys and trains by Lehmann, Märklin and Schuco
• Dolls, dollhouses and rocking horses
• Dancing bear by Fernand Martin as the oldest piece

Permanent exhibitions

• Kleinstadtszene mit Steiff-Tieren – A colorful village set from 1962, in which movable animals set up their town at every full and half hour.
• Blechspielzeug und Eisenbahnen – Cars, trains and animal figures from brands such as Lehmann, Märklin and Schuco.
• Puppen und Puppenstuben – Dolls, dollhouses, building sets and rocking horses show how children's toys developed from 1880 to 1970.

Founded

1989

Operated by

Trierer Spielzeugmuseum e. V.

Admission & discounts

Prices as of before the closure.

Accessibility

• 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 entrance for people with limited mobility and for parents with strollers is in the courtyard at Jakobstraße 4; an elevator in the café-restaurant leads into the museum. Ramps and a stair lift for wheelchair users are available.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Stroller-friendly
• Kids’ birthday parties

The museum offered children's birthday parties and programs for school classes; the small-town scene with Steiff animals came to life at every full and half hour.

Getting there & parking

The main entrance is at Dietrichstraße 51; step-free access is via Jakobstraße 4.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

A café-restaurant is attached to the building; museum shop available.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit