Willy Brandt House takes visitors on an informative journey through 20th-century German history via interactive exhibits, multimedia installations and original artifacts. It has a primary focus on the Luebeck local Willy Brandt, who went on to become the Chancellor of Germany and a 1971 Nobel Prize laureate. The Willy Brandt Museum is designed to serve as an educational tool for visitors of all ages.
The permanent exhibition solely showcases events related to Brandt. See a gallery of photos that represent his birth up until his final days. Learn about his childhood upbringing in the city, his exile to Norway during the Nazi control of Germany and tenure as the mayor of Berlin. Notable artifacts include his Nobel Peace Prize award and school graduation diploma. Also on display is a letter written to John F. Kennedy following the construction of the Berlin Wall.
While here you can sit at a government bench and stand at a lectern. Watch reruns of significant speeches by Brandt and scrutinize conflicting media reports from the divided East and West Germany. In the house’s garden are relics from the Berlin Wall.
For children there is a memory game to complete as you walk between the exhibits. It provides an opportunity to learn while being in direct contact with the exhibits. Ask at the reception about special events. These range from literature talks to movie screenings and seminars.
The museum is a great place to visit while touring Luebeck Old Town. It sits on Koenigstrasse, a stately avenue that cuts through the center of the quarter. There are several major city attractions nearby, including Museum Behnhaus Drägerhaus, St. Catherine’s Church and St. Jakobi Church. Luebeck’s central train terminal is about a mile (1.6 kilometers) to the southwest.
Willy Brandt House is open daily and admission is free. Free guided tours take place on weekends.
