National Museum in Gdansk, Gdansk

The National Museum in Gdańsk is a significant institution in the national museum system of the country, with roots stretching back to the third quarter of the 19th century. Established officially in 1972, its history dates back to when it was known as the Gdansk City Museum in the late 19th century. Housed in an old late-Gothic Franciscan monastery, the museum has been a custodian of art and history since the end of the 19th century.

The museum's initial collections were significantly enhanced in 1884 following the merger with the Gdansk Museum of Decorative Arts. A pivotal part of its holdings is the Jacob Kabrun collection, which features several thousand pieces, including pictures, drawings, and prints by European masters from the late fifteenth to the early nineteenth centuries.

World War II brought considerable challenges to the museum. In the aftermath, approximately 65% of the main building was destroyed, leading to the loss of many collections, including all numismatic exhibits and Far Eastern art. The museum's library and records suffered similar fates. Despite these losses, the museum persevered, reopening its first post-war exhibition in 1948 under a new name, the "Pomeranian Museum in Gdańsk."

1956 marked a significant recovery for the museum when Hans Memling's "Last Judgment" and parts of the painting and print collections were returned. The Opatów Palace in Oliwa, originally home to the ethnographic department, became the site for the museum's collection of modern art in 1989.

The rich collections of the Pomeranian Museum led to the establishment of several other museums in Gdańsk, such as the National Maritime Museum (1960), the Archeological Museum (1962), and the Gdańsk Historical Museum (1971). In 1972, to reflect its growing importance and broadened scope, the institution was renamed as the National Museum in Gdańsk.