Deutsches Schloss- und Beschlägemuseum
Velbert museum on 4,000 years of lock, key, and security technology with many working models – free admission for children and teens.
Over het museum
Velbert has been a center of the lock and hardware industry since the 19th century. In 1928 a local history museum was established in the Altes Bürgermeisterhaus (old mayor's house), which already had a large collection of locks and fittings as well as a complete blacksmith workshop. In 1936 this became the Deutsches Schlossmuseum, which was housed in the basement of the town hall for decades and grew steadily through purchases and donations.
In the 1980s the museum moved to the Forum Niederberg, where the exhibition was redesigned and revised once more in 2006. After a closure of just over two years, it reopened in October 2021 at its own site: a new building with a facade of brushed metal panels refers to the city's metal industry and is connected to the listed Villa Herminghaus of 1885, the former home of a manufacturer's family.
The permanent exhibition in the new building shows around 1,000 objects across 470 square meters, from ancient keys to biometric access control, and tells the story as a race between security technology and attempted break-ins. The villa houses rooms for special exhibitions and museum education. In total, the collection comprises around 70,000 objects, supplemented by a specialist library, historical catalogs, and patent documents.
Hoogtepunten
- Around 1,000 locks, keys, and fittings from 4,000 years
- Historic blacksmith workshop from the founding collection
- Working models and hands-on stations to try out
- Tactile models of twelve exhibits for blind and visually impaired visitors
- Listed Villa Herminghaus of 1885
Vaste collectie
- Sicher vs. unsicher – 4.000 Jahre Schloss und Beschlag – A tour through the history of locking technology as a race between security and break-ins, with working models, media stations, and the industrial history of Velbert.
- Opgericht
- 1936
- Beheerder
- Stadt Velbert
- Directie
- Dr. Yvonne Gönster
Toegangsprijzen & kortingen
| Volwassenen | € 4 |
|---|---|
| Met korting | € 2Students, university students, trainees, recipients of ALG II (unemployment benefit II), social assistance, basic income support, benefits under the AsylbLG (Asylum Seekers Benefits Act), or housing benefit; one accompanying person per child or teen under 18 |
| Kinderen & jongeren | gratisgratis t/m 17 jaar · Children and teens under 18 have free admission. |
| Mensen met een beperking | gratisbegeleider gratis · People with severe disabilities have free admission, as do their companions. |
| Studenten | € 2 |
| Groepen | –Guided tours for groups of up to 20 people from €40 plus admission. |
| Children's tour "Keyra und der magische Schlüssel" | € 5No registration required. |
Gratis toegang: Every third weekend of the month (except special events).
Free admission also for Velbert schools and daycare centers, members of the Förderungsgemeinschaft (friends' association), holders of the Ehrenamtskarte or the Museumspass of the Deutscher Museumsbund, ICOM members, new residents, and FSJ (voluntary social year) volunteers.
Toegankelijkheid
- Rolstoeltoegankelijk
- Lift: geen informatie
- Aangepast toilet
- Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats: geen informatie
- Hulphonden welkom
- Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten
- Rondleidingen in gebarentaal: geen informatie
- Informatie in eenvoudige taal
- Audiodescriptie: geen informatie
The foyer, permanent and special exhibitions, and the accessible restroom are reachable at ground level; loaner wheelchair, folding stools, reading glasses, and step stools for children available. A tactile floor guidance system leads from the square through the permanent exhibition, and there are 3D tactile models of twelve exhibits. High-contrast text panels, accessible catalog, and accompanying brochure in Easy Language.
Kinderen & gezin
Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen
| Toegang kinderen | gratis t/m 17 jaar |
|---|
- Gezinsrondleidingen & workshops
- Speurtocht, doeboekje of kinderaudiotour
- Doe- en voelstations
- Kinderfeestjes
Children's tour with the superheroine Keyra (puzzles and tasks, €5). Children's birthday parties for up to 10 children aged 6 to 10 (2 hours, registration at least 6 weeks in advance). Holiday activities according to the events calendar; many hands-on stations to touch and try out.
Bereikbaarheid & parkeren
Met het openbaar vervoer
Velbert ZOB · 5 min. lopen
Buses from neighboring cities (e.g., Wuppertal, Essen) to Velbert ZOB, from there about a 5-minute walk via Nedderstraße, Friedrichstraße, and Kolpingstraße.
Met de auto
Betaald parkeren
Stadtgalerie parking garage on Oststraße across from the museum (day tickets must be paid in advance). No bus parking; tour buses can stop briefly in front of the museum, stop on Höferstraße, official tour bus stop at Von-Böttinger-Platz.
GPS address: Oststraße 12. By car via the A 535, exit Velbert. By bike via the PanoramaRadweg Niederbergbahn; bike racks at the museum.
Route plannenService & horeca
- Museumwinkel
Museum shop in the foyer with specialist literature, trick locks, and exhibition catalogs.
Evenementen & zaalverhuur
- Ruimtes te huur
- Zakelijke evenementen
Tot 70 personen.
The foyer can be rented for receptions, lectures, or meetings (seating for up to 70 people, projector and screen, standing and seated tables).
Aanvragen & detailsJe bezoek plannen
| Rondleidingen | ja · duur ca. 60 min. |
|---|---|
| Aanbod voor scholen | ja |
| Goed om te weten | Themed tours for groups of up to 20 people (60 min.: €40 during opening hours, €60 outside opening hours, plus admission), as well as an evening mystery tour and city walk. Tours for daycare groups and school classes of up to 30 people; groups should register in advance even without a tour. Public Sunday tours and flashlight tours according to the events calendar. |
