RAUTENSTRAUCH-JOEST MUSEUM

This is one of the country's most important ethnological museums, where you can admire over 60,000 exhibits evoking non-European civilizations. Lifestyles, beliefs and identity are the themes that unite humanity. A 3,600-square-meter exhibition area invites visitors to discover the wide variety of ways in which the world's different cultures deal with these issues. The "Understanding the World" theme complex reveals the European vision of other cultures, as reflected in travel accounts and the arts. The "Shaping the World" theme complex familiarizes visitors with different concepts of life. Why was life in a teepee so practical? Why were Maoris tattooed, and why are tattoos making a comeback? What is the purpose of ancestral figures? Compare cultures to illustrate similarities and differences. It's a modern, enjoyable exhibition concept designed to promote tolerance and arouse visitors' curiosity. It's a very well-designed museum, always as close as possible to scientific knowledge. The highlight of the visit is undoubtedly the impressive 7-metre-high rice silo from the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia. A guided tour (available in several languages) will help you understand what is at stake in these collections, their preservation and the importance of openness to other cultures.