German Mining Museum
About
The Deutsches Bergbau-Museum Bochum, founded in 1930, is the world’s largest mining museum and a Leibniz research institution for geo‑resources. Its 8,000 m² exhibition space, the 1.2 km visitor mine and the iconic headframe above the museum present the discovery, processing, and social impact of mining from coal to rare metals. Visitors experience interactive displays, a faithful reconstruction of an underground mine, and themed permanent exhibitions titled Hard Coal, Mining, Mineral Resources and Art. The museum’s research, archives, and multimedia centre, montan.dok, support ongoing scientific studies in archaeometallurgy, mining history, and materials science. A rotating schedule of temporary exhibitions and guided tours makes the museum a dynamic destination for all ages.
Highlights
- Headframe Tour
- Underground Mine
- Permanent Exhibition Hall
Must-See Areas
Good to Know
Good for
Best time to visit
Spring and autumn for fewer crowds
At a glance
- Typical visit: about 2 hours