Suermondt-Ludwig-Museum, Aachen

Suermondt-Ludwig-Museum is located in the Villa Cassalette, a former city palace built between 1884 and 1888 for the industrialist Eduard Cassalette. The collection began in 1882 with a major donation of paintings by Barthold Suermondt. In 1977, Irene and Peter Ludwig added a large group of works from both older and modern periods, which led to the museum receiving its current name.

One of the museum’s main strengths is its medieval sculpture collection from the 12th to the 16th century. Visitors can see stone and wooden figures from German and Dutch regions, including Brabantine works from places like Brussels and Antwerp. Many pieces once stood in churches and use clear poses and expressions to convey religious stories, with altarpieces and reliefs showing how they were used in worship.

The painting galleries focus on Dutch and Flemish art, with portraits, landscapes, and scenes of daily life. Works by Frans Hals, Anthony van Dyck, and Jacob van Ruisdael appear alongside Spanish, German, and French artists. A smaller group of modern works by Otto Dix, Max Beckmann, and August Macke is also shown, with short texts that make the displays easy to follow.