Open-air museum Mühlenhof

Discover how birds learnt to fly and how whales and lizards learnt to swim. Find out how dinosaurs communicated with each other and how they were able to grow into such giants. Find out why our gardens and streets are still teeming with dinosaurs today.

On over 850 square metres, the permanent exhibition answers exciting questions about the life and evolution of dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals. Immerse yourself in a world full of strange yet familiar colours, sounds and life forms. See how palaeontologists in Westphalia continue to find rare fossils and what is possible today to breathe new life into fossilised bones. In addition to a large number of skeletons, models, specimens and real fossils, interactive media, animations and films provide an exciting change of pace.

Take advantage of the many opportunities to join in with the interactive activities and gain your own experiences. Be prepared for surprises!

Did water buffalo and sabre-toothed cats really once live in Westphalia? The LWL Museum of Natural History of the Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe (LWL) is now bringing these animals back to life.

In the 320 square metre exhibition, visitors to the museum can experience visitors experience the coming and going of animals and plants on a journey through time with over 900 exhibits. The exhibition includes original artefacts from Ice Age bone finds of vanished and impressive animal species.

In the 19th century, names such as Charles Darwin, Alfred Wallace and Alexander von Humboldt characterise the world of natural sciences. At the same time, volunteer researchers from Münster set out to explore the region's nature and secure objects and research findings - the foundation stones of today's natural science collections for Westphalia-Lippe with a total of over 2.3 million collection objects. The special exhibition "Vom Fach" provides an exciting insight into the museum's collections with around 3,300 exhibits on 400 square metres.

The special exhibition "Genes - Diversity of Life" offers a fascinating insight into the world of genes and their complexity and diversity over an area of 1,000 square metres. From the significance of a gene to epigenetics and gene therapy, genetic topics are explained to visitors in a way that is easy to understand.

The exhibition shows interactively and inclusively how genes influence appearance and behaviour and have shaped historical events.

Topics such as genetic engineering, hereditary diseases and epigenetic influences are highlighted. Chromosome sculptures guide visitors through the exhibition area.

Zebras, ostriches and eland are just some of the animals on our large African enclosure. The animals are particularly easy to observe during feeding time.

The enclosure can be viewed from many places, including a small high stand, a pavilion with binoculars, bridges, footbridges and the normal visitor path to watch the various inhabitants of Africa feed.