Museum of Art and Craft, Hamburg

The Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe, or the Museum of Art and Craft, is located close to the Hauptbahnhof, Hamburg’s central train station. Founded in 1874, the museum is dedicated to fine, applied and decorative arts. It was created following the successful opening of similar museums in London, Vienna and Berlin, and moved to its current home on Steintorplatz in 1877.

The museum went through a turbulent period in the first half of the 20th century. It flourished between 1919 and 1933 under the stewardship of Max Sauerlandt, amassing an impressive collection of Expressionist works. Many works were then removed by the Nazi party, who ordered that Sauerlandt left the gallery. During the war, Hamburg was targeted heavily by Allied bombs, which partially destroyed the building. It did not fully reopen until 1959.

The permanent collection here has a number of rare and specialist items. The museum is known for its historic keyboard instruments, Art Nouveau furniture and Islamic decorative artwork. There is also a Japanese tea house which occasionally holds traditional ceremonies. Opening hours and admission costs vary throughout the year. Admission fee is approximately 8 Euros for adults, with concessions available. Those under 18 get in for free.