Westfälisches Pferdemuseum Münster

Actuele tentoonstellingen

Over het museum

The initiative came from a friends' association founded in 1992 to campaign for a museum about the horse in Westphalia. In 1996, it agreed on a partnership with the Allwetterzoo Münster: the museum was to be built as an independent institution on the zoo grounds and become the centerpiece of a horse park. The new building opened on October 27, 2002, under the name "Hippomaxx." It is operated by a nonprofit company in which the friends' association and the city of Münster hold stakes.

The building, with an alder-wood façade and a green roof, covers about 3,000 square meters. It includes a large hall for permanent and temporary exhibitions, a foyer overlooking the horse park, storage and workshops, and the 540-square-meter Arena Hippomaxx, where horse shows are held regularly. Since 2005, it has been joined by a children's and horse park with various breeds, including Dülmen wild horses.

On about 1,000 square meters, the permanent exhibition uses original objects, media and hands-on stations to tell the story of the long relationship between horses and people in Westphalia – from breeding and work underground in the mines to equestrian sports. The museum is also known for the "Wildlife Photographer of the Year" photo exhibition of the Natural History Museum London, which it has shown every winter for years as the first venue in Germany.

Hoogtepunten

• The famous breeding stallion Polydor
• History of pit ponies in mining
• Saddle stations and hands-on activities related to riding
• Arena Hippomaxx with monthly horse shows
• Children's and horse park with various breeds
• "Wildlife Photographer of the Year" every winter

Vaste collectie

• Natur- und Kulturgeschichte des Pferdes in Westfalen – Permanent exhibition with original objects, media and hands-on stations on the relationship between horses and people – from the breeding stallion Polydor to the daily life of pit ponies.

Opgericht

2002

Beheerder

Westfälisches Pferdemuseum Münster gGmbH (Förderverein und Stadt Münster)

Directie

Sybill Ebers

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

No separate museum admission: a visit to the horse museum, including special exhibitions and horse shows, is included in the Allwetterzoo day ticket. The prices listed are online prices; at the ticket office: adults €27.90, reduced €24.90, family day ticket €69.40. For children at the ticket office, the museum website lists €17.40 and the zoo €17.90. Münster-Pass holders have had free zoo admission since 2026; members of the museum's friends' association once per quarter.

Toegankelijkheid

• Rolstoeltoegankelijk
• Lift: geen informatie
• Aangepast toilet
• Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats
• Hulphonden welkom
• Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten: geen informatie
• Rondleidingen in gebarentaal: geen informatie
• Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
• Audiodescriptie: geen informatie

The entire museum is wheelchair-accessible and has a wheelchair-accessible restroom. Ten accessible parking spaces in the zoo parking lot; loaner wheelchairs available at the zoo ticket office for a €20 deposit (can be reserved by phone).

Kinderen & gezin

Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen

• Gezinsrondleidingen & workshops
• Speurtocht, doeboekje of kinderaudiotour
• Kinderfeestjes

Children's birthday parties (approx. 1.5 hrs with a tour of the exhibition and children's/horse park, party in the foyer), a horse adventure day for families, and a hobby-horsing activity day. Museum quiz for children from age 9 and worksheets (partly free to download). The museum is located in the Allwetterzoo, and admission is included in the zoo ticket.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

Service & horeca

• Museumwinkel
• Kluisjes

Museum shop at the entrance; free lockers in the museum foyer (about 100 m from the zoo entrance). Dogs only on Fridays ("Doggy Day") on a leash, otherwise only assistance dogs.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

• Ruimtes te huur
• Privéfeesten
• Zakelijke evenementen

Tot 250 personen.

Foyer (350 m², up to 120 guests) with a 70 m² pond terrace by the horse park, and Arena Hippomaxx (540 m², riding ring, 40 m² cinema screen) for receptions, conferences and gala dinners with 20 to 250 people.

Je bezoek plannen