Willy-Brandt-Haus Lübeck
Contemporary history museum in Willy Brandt's hometown about the life and politics of the chancellor and Nobel Peace Prize laureate – free admission.
About the museum
The Willy-Brandt-Haus Lübeck is located at Königstraße 21 in a townhouse from the 1770s that once served as the clubhouse of the Zirkelgesellschaft, an association of Lübeck patricians, and later housed a court and an archive, among other things. After standing empty for a long time, the building was restored for around €3.8 million, funded mainly by the federal government and the Deutsche Stiftung Denkmalschutz. The decisive impetus for founding the museum came from Günter Grass; the neighboring Günter Grass-Haus can be reached via the courtyard.
The house opened on December 18, 2007, on what would have been Brandt's 94th birthday. It is run by the Bundeskanzler-Willy-Brandt-Stiftung, which also mounts exhibitions in Berlin and Unkel. The permanent exhibition "Willy Brandt. Ein politisches Leben im 20. Jahrhundert" follows Herbert Frahm, born in Lübeck in 1913, from young Social Democrat, opponent of the Nazis, and exile to Governing Mayor of Berlin, and on to the chancellorship, his Ostpolitik and policy of détente, and his worldwide commitment to peace and development. Media and audio stations with original recordings shape the tour; a piece of the Berlin Wall stands in the museum courtyard.
By summer 2026, almost one million people had seen the exhibition. The house sees itself as a place of learning about the history of democracy and human rights and offers workshops for schools, lectures, and discussions. The current exhibition closes on December 18, 2026; after a renovation, a redesigned permanent exhibition covering about 350 square meters is scheduled to open in fall 2027.
Highlights
- Multimedia permanent exhibition on Brandt's political life (until December 18, 2026)
- Original Brandt speeches and newsreel reports at audio stations
- Section of the Berlin Wall in the museum courtyard
- Sculpture by Rainer Fetting in the entrance niche
- Children's program "Mit Kater Billy durch die Ausstellung" (Through the exhibition with Billy the cat)
- Free public guided tours on weekends
Permanent exhibitions
- Willy Brandt. Ein politisches Leben im 20. Jahrhundert – Multimedia, interactive exhibition on Brandt's path from Lübeck through exile and Berlin to the Chancellery; it closes on December 18, 2026, with a closing event and will be replaced by a new permanent exhibition from fall 2027.
- Founded
- 2007
- Operated by
- Bundeskanzler-Willy-Brandt-Stiftung
- Director
- Bettina Greiner
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
| Groups | –Group tour of the exhibition (approx. 60 min.) €5 per person, minimum €50; groups of 20 or more are split. Themed walk through Lübeck (approx. 2 hours) flat rate €120. Cancellation fee of €50 if canceled less than two working days in advance. |
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Free admission; public guided tours and events are also free (registration required for events). The exploration booklet for young people aged 12 and up costs €1.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: not available
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: not available
- Audio description: no information
The exhibition is on the first floor; four steps at the entrance are bridged by a mobile ramp (max. 300 kg, 24% incline), so a companion is recommended and registration by phone is requested, especially on weekends. Courtyard and garden accessible only via steps. Wheelchair-accessible restroom on the first floor; baby changing table available. Accessible parking space in front of the neighboring building at Königstraße 19. All exhibits may be touched; tactile offerings and Easy Language (Leichte Sprache) materials are in preparation. Monthly telephone tour "Bei Anruf Kultur". Portable stools available.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
Free children's activities at the counter: search game with photo cards and Billy the cat for ages 5 and up, activity booklet for ages 8 and up, exploration sheet "Brand(t)ermittlung" for ages 12 and up. Transponder card with child-friendly content at the media stations. Occasional children's festival.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Katharineum · 50 m
Bus 10, 11, 21, 31, or 39 from the main train station/ZOB (central bus station), or line 4 from Stadthalle, to the Katharineum stop (50 m); from Burgtor, all lines except 10 to the Koberg stop (100 m).
By car
Parking available · 500 m to the entrance
No parking at the building; the public parking lots on Kanalstraße (approx. 500 m) are recommended.
- Accessible parking
Amenities & dining
- Museum shop
Museum shop in the entrance area (cash or card).
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 60 min |
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| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Free public guided tours on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays at 15:00 (no registration needed). Exhibition texts and media stations in German and English; the children's program also in French and Norwegian; information texts in further languages (including French, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish) available from visitor services. Workshops and projects for schools from grade 9, integration courses, and teachers. Only assistance dogs are allowed in the exhibition and courtyard. Group tours last about 1 hour, themed walks approx. 2 hours. |
