Museum für Völkerkunde der Universität Kiel

The Museum for Ethnology at the University of Kiel is an ethnographic collection displaying objects from South Pacific cultures, East Asia, and Africa. The rooms contain weapons, jewelry, clothing, armor, masks, and boat models that illustrate the range of human craftsmanship across regions.

The institution was established in 1884, beginning with artifacts that sea captains from Kiel acquired during trade journeys across the South Pacific. Over time, the collections expanded to include materials from many other regions of the world, creating a broader picture of human cultures.

The displays feature masks, weapons, and ornaments from around the world, showing how people in different places created beauty and meaning in their daily lives. Walking through the rooms, you notice how each culture developed distinct ways of making and decorating the objects they used.

The museum is located within the university and is reachable on foot from the city center. The rooms are arranged in a manageable size, so a visit may take several hours depending on how closely you want to explore each object.

Part of the South Pacific collections became a permanent loan to Kiel's Maritime Museum in 2014. This arrangement allows visitors to see these objects within the context of the city's trading history and seafaring connections.

Location: Kiel

Official opening: 1884

Website: http://deutsche-museen.de/show.php?myname=index&id=4369&show_ref=yes&bundesland_id=16

GPS coordinates: 54.32810,10.14420

Latest update: December 14, 2025 13:01