The LWL-Museum of Natural History shows you biological and geological exhibitions on global topics and regional nature. For this purpose, it has extensive collections ranging from taxidermied animals and plants to rocks, minerals and fossils. It also has a planetarium in the same building, where you can see 360-degree astronomical films and music shows, among other things. This makes the LWL-Museum the only museum in Germany with a large planetarium. It is located on the Aasee in the vicinity of the Allwetterzoo and the Mühlenhof-Freilichtmuseum.

On display are permanent exhibitions as well as changing special and traveling exhibitions. All of them are suitable for people with disabilities, such as films with subtitles or texts on topics are described in an understandable way. In the permanent exhibitions, you will see, for example, skeletons and lifelike reconstructions of dinosaurs or the regional biodiversity of Westphalia through the ages. Previous special exhibitions have focused on fossils from Westphalia, nomads past and present, and various indigenous peoples.

Visitors of all ages can experience the exhibitions in guided tours: Individuals, groups, families with their children, school classes, childcare center groups, as well as seniors. For children, school classes and daycare groups there are additional offers such as experimental workshops or getting to know animals, their habitats as well as the protection of endangered species and nature. The prices for the guided tours and offers vary depending on the number of persons and type.

The museum was founded by Hermann Landois and dedicated volunteer naturalists at the end of the 19th century on the grounds of the zoological garden. They wanted a place for professional exchange and natural history education for the public. Landois became the first honorary director of the museum.

At the end of 1944, the museum's holdings were moved out because of the war. This was the right decision at that time, because later the building was severely damaged by air raids. In 1949, the exhibition was then rebuilt. In 1967, the Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe, as the museum's owner, decided to build a new building near the zoo at the Aasee. In 1981, the museum was then reopened, together with the planetarium.

For more information about the LWL-Museum of Natural History, its offerings, prices and more, visit the museum's website (website available in English).

​

​

​ Further information:

• Wikipedia article Hermann Landois (English article)

• Wikipedia article Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe (article only available in German)