Zollmuseum Friedrichs, Customs museum in Aachen, Germany
Zollmuseum Friedrichs is a customs museum in Aachen with 22 rooms and around 3,000 objects displaying equipment, documents, and materials related to border control and trade regulations. The exhibits are organized into seven thematic sections spanning from medieval customs practices to modern border operations.
The museum was founded in 1984 by Christian Friedrichs, a former customs director, and occupies a red brick building from 1933 that originally served as offices for customs officials. The building itself reflects the development of border control practices across centuries.
The exhibits display confiscated items such as taxidermied animals, crocodile bags, and snakeskin products that reveal what goods were illegally traded across borders. These objects tell stories of the daily work and investigations carried out by customs officers.
Visitors can explore the seven thematic sections on their own or join guided tours arranged in advance. The museum is easy to navigate and presents all exhibits without feeling overcrowded.
The basement contains a fully reconstructed hidden distillery where spirits were illegally produced and hidden from authorities. Alongside it, a recreated cobbler's workshop displays how smugglers concealed contraband inside shoes and furniture.
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