Museumsfest Neanderthal Museum

The Neanderthal Museum as a Festival Venue

The Neanderthal Museum, one of Germany's most renowned archaeological museums, is located in the Neandertal near Mettmann (Mettmann district, Düsseldorf administrative region) — the very place where the first bone fragments of the Neanderthal, the early human named after this valley, were discovered in 1856. Once a year, the museum opens its outdoor area for the grand Museumsfest, which makes the Stone Age interactively experienceable — in 2026 on the weekend of August 29 and 30.

Archery, Spear-Throwing, Fire-Making

The focus of the festival is on practical Stone Age experiences: archery with training bows under the guidance of sport archers (ages 6+), spear-throwing with atlatl throwing devices (ages 8+), fire-making with flint and tinder fungus in the Stone Age camp. Experienced reenactors and educators accompany the stations, ensuring that even inexperienced visitors can achieve success.

Pottery, Blacksmithing, Tattoos, and Digs

Other stations teach the crafts and way of life of prehistoric cultures: pottery on a simple potter's wheel or by hand-building, blacksmithing with Iron Age tools at a forge, tattoos with henna (temporary), an archaeological dig for children in a prepared sandbox with "real" finds to be recovered, documented, and restored. Educational support ensures learning success even for the youngest children from age 4.

Regional Family Highlight

The Museumsfest is one of the most popular family events in the western Rhineland — over 3,000 visitors attend annually. The mix of outdoor activity, science communication, hands-on education, and its natural setting in the Neandertal makes the day a special excursion experience. Families from Düsseldorf, Cologne, Wuppertal, and the Bergisches Land region use the weekend for their visit.

Location and Arrival

The Neanderthal Museum is located in the Neandertal near Mettmann (Talstraße 300, 40822 Mettmann). The S-Bahn line S28 stops directly in front of the museum (station Neanderthal). S-Bahn line S8 requires a 20-minute walk from Mettmann-Stadtwald station. By car: A3 exit Mettmann or A535 exit Düsseldorf-Süd. Free parking at the Park-and-Ride S-Bahn lot (5 minutes walk), Erwepa lot with shuttle service during the festival weekend.

Tickets with Combo Discount

The Museumsfest has its own festival ticket (€6 per person, ages 4+). Those who wish to combine their festival visit with a museum visit benefit from the combo ticket: €9.50 for children (ages 4-16, 39% savings), €14 for adults (ages 17+, 30% savings). Children under 4 have free admission. Tickets are available online or on-site at the ticket counter.