PapierMarkt — LVR-Industrial Museum Old Paper Mill Dombach

PapierMarkt Alte Dombach — When Paper Becomes Art

Once a year, the courtyard of the Old Paper Mill Dombach in Bergisch Gladbach fills with artists whose material is singular: paper. On Sunday, May 3, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., the LVR-Industrial Museum's annual PapierMarkt takes place — a marketplace bringing together the full spectrum of the Central European paper art and craft scene.

What is Sold Here

The exhibitors cover a broad range:

• Handmade Papers — Deckle-edged papers in various textures and colors
• Marbled Papers — traditional marbling technique with watercolors
• Books and Albums — hand-bound notebooks, photo, and sketch albums
• Boxes and Tins — laminated and covered cardboard containers
• Letterheads and Stationery — cards, envelopes, writing materials
• Upcycled Products made from old book pages, maps, sheet music
• Sustainable Paper Goods made from recycled or fair-trade materials

A selection that spans from unique artisanal pieces and limited editions to upcycled everyday items — all at an authentic location: a former 19th-century paper mill.

Hands-on Stations and Workshops

During the PapierMarkt, the museum's support association offers interactive paper-making stations: visitors can try their hand at making paper, marbling, or bookbinding. Especially for children, there are upcycling workshops where new objects are created from old newspapers, packaging, and paper scraps.

LVR-Industrial Museum Old Paper Mill Dombach

The venue is the LVR-Industrial Museum Old Paper Mill Dombach — one of Germany's most significant paper museums. On the grounds of a historic 19th-century paper mill, the museum showcases the history of paper production from handmade sheets to industrial mass manufacturing. The paper machine hall with its functional original machinery is the centerpiece. The LVR (Rhineland Regional Association) operates the museum as one of its eight LVR-Industrial Museums in the Rhineland.

'Pay-What-You-Want' — The Admission Model

The PapierMarkt day is also a 'Pay-What-You-Want' day: visitors decide for themselves what admission donation they wish to make. This approach deliberately makes the museum accessible with a low barrier and invites families in particular to combine their market visit with a museum tour.

Bergisch Gladbach — District Town in the Bergisches Land

The town of Bergisch Gladbach, with its approximately 112,000 inhabitants, is the administrative seat of the Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis (Rhine-Berg District) in North Rhine-Westphalia. The town lies directly east of Cologne and belongs to the Bergisches Land region. Historically shaped by paper production — the Old Paper Mill Dombach is just one of formerly dozens of mills along the Strunde river and its tributaries. Today, Bergisch Gladbach is home to the main plant of Krüger GmbH (food products) and several medium-sized companies.