Von der Heydt-Museum

Current exhibitions

About the museum

The museum was founded in 1902 as the Städtisches Museum Elberfeld; from the outset it was strongly supported by civic commitment, above all by the von der Heydt banking family, whose members donated numerous works. Modern works entered the collection within its first decades.

During the Nazi era, the museum lost dozens of paintings and hundreds of works on paper in the “Degenerate Art” campaign, including works by Picasso and Feininger. After the war, the collection was rebuilt; in 1961 the museum received its current name in honor of the donor family.

It is housed in the Neoclassical former Elberfeld town hall, built from 1828 to plans by Johann Peter Cremer. Today the holdings comprise around 3,000 paintings, 400 sculptures and some 30,000 works on paper from the Baroque to the present, with a focus on 19th-century French painting, Expressionism and art after 1945.

Roland Mönig has directed the museum since 2020. The collection is shown in the thematically arranged presentation “Zeiten und Räume”; in 2026 the exhibition floors were modernized step by step.

Highlights

• Claude Monet’s “Vétheuil”
• Edgar Degas’ dancers in the rehearsal room
• 19th-century French painting and Impressionism
• German Expressionism
• Collection presentation “Zeiten und Räume”, from Ruisdael to Giacometti
• Neoclassical former Elberfeld town hall

Permanent exhibitions

• Zeiten und Räume. Klassiker der Sammlung. Ruisdael bis Giacometti – Thematically arranged collection presentation from the 17th century to the 1960s, with works by Monet and Gauguin, among others; according to the website on view until May 2027, currently only partly open due to modernization.

Founded

1902

Operated by

Stadt Wuppertal

Director

Roland Mönig

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Free admission on the first Thursday of every month 17:00–20:00.

Due to the renovation work, admission is €5 for everyone up to and including October 10, 2026. Free admission for art students, press, ICOM/AICA members and members of the Museumsverein (museum association), among others.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• 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

Side entrance for visitors with limited mobility, elevators to most floors, accessible restroom on the second floor. Two loan wheelchairs (book at 0202 563-6231) and folding stools. Accessible parking spaces in the CityArkaden, the Rathaus-Galerie and two spaces on Wall (access from 11:00).

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Stroller-friendly
• Kids’ birthday parties

Children’s tours with a studio session for ages 5 and up (without parents), Mini-Kunst-Treff on Saturdays, family Sundays, holiday and studio courses, and tours for parents with babies in their first year. An activity booklet with puzzles and colored pencils is available at the ticket desk. Strollers are allowed in the exhibitions; please feed and change babies and toddlers on the first floor.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Lockers

Museum café and shop. Free cloakroom; bags and coats must be checked.

Events & venue rental

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

Plan your visit