Special Guided Tour with hands-on work
Ilna Ewers-Wunderwalds fantastische Wesen
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Please note that this tour will be held in German.
Ilna Ewers-Wunderwald was an artist, a free spirit, and an emancipatory pioneer of her time; however, she has since been forgotten. She was born in Düsseldorf and played an active role in the art scene and visited the art association “Malkasten” often. Some of her illustrations evoke a memory of distant places and phantastical creatures. Our first stop will be the FrauenOrt NRW dedicated to her before heading to the Kunstpalast. After some artistic impressions, we will create our own illustrations.
Meeting place: Malkasten, Pempelforter Straße
In Kooperation mit
Collection
Discover our permanent collection
From around 130,000 objects owned by the Kunstpalast, the display collection shows around 800 works in a chronological tour of over 5,000 square metres.
Famous paintings, such as Rubens’ Ascension or Cranach’s Unequal Couple, meet exhibits that make many a visitor wonder: Birkenstock sandals and an Aldi bag, for example. Is that art? Of course it is!
Whether miniature or monumental work, everyday object or piece of jewellery, sculpture or porcelain, drawing or interactive VR installation – this collection unites all genres. Thanks to regular new additions and rearrangements as well as temporary interventions and special presentations such as Kunstpalast in Bloom, the permanent collection is always on the move and there is always something new to discover on the tour.
The broad concept of art in our collectionallows surprising changes of perspective. The presentation examines the relevance of historical and contemporary art, establishes connections to current themes and demonstrates the similarities between what at first glance appear to be very different works that were created at the same time – free from stylistic categorisations and regardless of their origin.
Members of the Friends of the Kunstpalast receive free admission and the opportunity to take part in a varied programme.
Explore our new collection with Antje and Gisela.
Highlights
The tour of our collection
Following its renovation, which was completed in November 2023, the collection wing of the Kunstpalast now presents itself as an open, contemporary space that appeals to visitors of all ages and levels of prior knowledge. The rearrangement has opened up new perspectives on the rich collection and enables a diverse, lively engagement with art from different eras and genres.
The Kunstpalast collection is divided into seven sections: the Picture Gallery, the Collection of Prints and Drawings, Sculpture and Applied Art, Glass, Modern Art, Photography and Time-Based Media. The Picture Gallery houses European paintings from the fifteenth to the early twentieth century and is based on the Picture Gallery of Elector Palatinate Johann Wilhelm. The Düsseldorf School of Painting is a particular focal point of the collection.
The museum’s collection is extensive, with around 130,000 objects from 11 centuries, various continents and all eras and genres. In addition to the historical holdings of the Düsseldorf Art Academy, other significant contributions to the main collection are the works from the Willi Kemp Foundation and those donated by Wolfgang Hanck.
The presentation of the collection is generously supported by the City of Düsseldorf and our sponsors and museum gallery sponsors.
Reconstruction of the Legendary Creamcheese
Time travel to the 1960s
The legendary Düsseldorf underground club Creamcheese, which was THE hotspot for the music and art scene from the late 1960s to the 1970s, has been brought back to life here.
After its closure, the artistic interior became the property of the Kunstpalast in 1978.
The bar area of this legendary pub has been reconstructed and is now on display at the Kunstpalast, with works by Günther Uecker, Gerhard Richter, Daniel Spoerri and other artists exhibited there at the time.
Part of the collection tour during regular opening hours, on Saturdays the Creamcheese room also invites visitors to stay late into the evening with drinks and music from the 1960s and 1970s. The bar can be booked for events on Fridays.Explore the Creamcheese Room
The Kunstpalast App
Experience art in multiple dimensions
Developed in cooperation with our digital partner ERGO, the Kunstpalast app now offers visitors an immersive, enhanced art experience. Available free of charge, the app enables visitors to experience works of art from the collection using augmented reality, combining learning and fun at the same time: while some features provide additional information on individual works, others are designed to amaze with surprising specials.Learn more and download the app
PalACE STUDIO
Being creative together
The cultural education workshops are now presented in a new location with a revised concept: the Palace Studio is a 350-square-metre, light, open and accessible space for working and thinking that combines a studio and a media lab, a darkroom and a discussion venue
The museum’s education partner, C. Josef Lamy GmbH, is the new sponsor of this meeting place for artistic and creative exchange.
Find out more
Spot on room
On the 1st floor of our new collection tour, there is a special room that provides a stage for changing exhibitions. Twice a year, this space is reorganised to focus on different themes and artists from our collection.
More information
Offers for children
Rhino palast
Hidden rooms by Christoph Niemann
Our visitors, young and old, can discover four hidden children’s rooms in our new tour of the collection. Designed exclusively for the Kunstpalast by the artist and illustrator Christoph Niemann, these special rooms, called Rhino Palast, will take you on a journey of discovery that will test the limits of your perception and allow you to playfully take over the museum.
Learn more
Rhino Tour
explore the kunstpalast with tonies
explore the kunstpalast with tonies
With Nele and Piet to Knight and Rubens: there is a lot for children to discover in the new Kunstpalast. An audio tour that can be played via the Toniebox introduces young visitors to 26 selected works of art in the collection through exciting and entertaining stories.
This unique audio guide is made possible by the cooperation with the company Boxine GmbH, which produces audio systems with matching audio figures, the Tonies.
Go on Rhino Tour
Gastronomy
Meet Anna Maria
The Taste of kunstpalast
Saban Emini and Joakim Olsen are from now on looking after the culinary well-being of our visitors. Together with their team, the two Düsseldorfers are running our new restaurant “Anna Maria”. You can look forward to a varied lunch menu, coffee and cake as well as a selected evening and wine menu.
Learn more
Exhibition View
Exhibition View, Photo: Andreas Endermann
Exhibition View, Photo: Anne Orthen
Exhibition View, Photo: Andreas Endermann
Exhibition View, Photo: Andreas Endermann
Exhibition View, Photo: Anne Orthen
Exhibition View, Photo: Anne Orthen
Exhibition View, Photo: Andreas Endermann
Exhibition View, Photo: Andreas Endermann
Exhibition View, Photo: Andreas Endermann
Supported by
Image Credits
Image Credits
Visite guidée publique en français / Public Tour in French
The secret power of scents
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Samedi 6 décembre 2025, 15 heures
Coût: 6 euros plus l’entrée à l’exposition
Qu’est-ce qu’une odeur particulière éveille en moi ? Comment influence-t-elle ma perception et mes actions ? Quels souvenirs et émotions suscite-t-elle ?
Dans cette visite guidée, nous vous invitons à découvrir l’histoire du parfum à travers votre odorat: embarquez pour un voyage sensoriel à travers nos salles de collection et découvrez, à travers 27 stations et salles olfactives, les odeurs les plus diverses issues de plus de mille ans d’histoire de l’art et de la culture.
Please Note: This tour will be held in German!
What does a certain smell evoke in me? How does it influence my perception and behaviour? What memories and emotions does it bring to life?
In this guided tour, we invite you to experience the history of scent through your sense of smell: embark on a sensory journey through our collection rooms and discover a wide variety of scents from over a thousand years of art and cultural history at 27 scent stations and rooms.
Mit allen Sinnen – Führung für blinde und sehbeeinträchtigte Personen
The secret power of scents
Book now
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Please Note: This tour will be held in German!
What does a certain smell evoke in me? How does it influence my perception and behaviour? What memories and emotions does it bring to life?
In this guided tour for blind and visually impaired people, we invite you to experience the history of scent through your sense of smell: embark on a sensory journey through our collection rooms and discover a wide variety of smells from over a thousand years of art and cultural history at 27 scent stations and rooms.
Meeting Place: Museum
Programme for Young Adult and Adult Refugees
The secret power of scents
Fully booked
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Please note: This program will be held in German!
The scent of trees in the forest, a freshly prepared meal or the perfume someone is wearing: some smells make us happy, others remind us of certain people or places. In this tour, we will discover the fascinating world of scents together. At 27 stations in the collection, you can smell different scents from over a thousand years of art and cultural history and engage in conversation with each other.
Meeting point Museum takes place once a month.
We warmly welcome people who have fled or immigrated. The entrance is free for them.
We are looking forward to see you!
Public Tour in German
The secret power of scents
Buy Tickets
Please choose a date:
Please Note: This tour will be held in German!
What does a certain smell evoke in me? How does it influence my perception and behaviour? What memories and emotions does it bring to life?
In this guided tour, we invite you to experience the history of scent through your sense of smell: embark on a sensory journey through our collection rooms and discover a wide variety of scents from over a thousand years of art and cultural history at 27 scent stations and rooms.
Introduction for secondary school teachers
The secret power of fragrances
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Please Note: This tour will be given in German!
We cordially invite all interested teachers to attend an introduction to ‘The Secret Power of Scent’. Together, we will visit the exhibition and then present the programme for secondary schools.
Please note: Due to limited space, registration is only open to teachers currently in service. Please bring the confirmation of registration to the event.
Introduction for Kindergarden Teachers and Teachers
The secret power of fragrances
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Please choose a date:
Please Note: This tour will be given in German!
We cordially invite all interested kindergarten teachers and primary school teachers to attend an introduction to ‘The Secret Power of Scents’. Together, we will visit the exhibition and then present the programme for kindergartens and primary schools.
Please note: There is only a limited number of places available. Therefore, registration is only open to active teachers and educators. Please bring the confirmation of registration to the event.