K20, K21 and the NRW-Forum: the art museums of Düsseldorf in a day
The Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen is one of the most important collections in Germany.
Düsseldorf is Germany's quiet art capital. With the Kunstakademie, where Joseph Beuys taught, the Schmela Haus, the Kunsthalle and KIT, one of the most significant art scenes in Europe is concentrated within a few square kilometres.
K20 on Grabbeplatz — classical modernism
K20 opened in 1986 in a building by the Danish architect Hans Hollein. The collection holds around 11,000 works, with an emphasis on German Expressionism, Der Blaue Reiter, Surrealism, Pop Art, the Bauhaus, and of course the Düsseldorf school: Joseph Beuys, Gerhard Richter, Sigmar Polke, Andreas Gursky.
K21 in the Ständehaus — the present day
K21 opened in 2002 in the historic Ständehaus. Under the glass dome hangs Tomás Saraceno's monumental steel net installation in orbit, in place since 2013: a transparent, three-storey web that visitors can climb through, helmet on.
The NRW-Forum — photography and pop culture
Directly beside K20, in the Ehrenhof by the Rhine. The focus is photography, pop culture, fashion and design, with changing exhibitions by Helmut Newton, Ellen von Unwerth and David LaChapelle.
Practicalities: tickets and opening hours
- Single ticket for K20 or K21: €12, reduced €9.
- Combined ticket for K20, K21 and the NRW-Forum: €18, reduced €13.
- The in orbit slot at K21: €4 extra, book online in advance.
- Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday 10 am to 6 pm, weekends 11 am to 6 pm, closed Mondays.
- Open until 10 pm on Thursdays, which is the quietest time to visit.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between K20 and K21?
- K20 shows classical modernism (Klee, Picasso, Beuys), K21 contemporary art from 1980 onwards.
- What does the combined K20 and K21 ticket cost?
- €18 standard, €13 reduced, valid for K20, K21 and the NRW-Forum on the same day.
- What is the in orbit installation at K21?
- A three-storey steel net installation by the Argentine artist Tomás Saraceno, in place since 2013.
- Which day is quietest?
- Thursday evenings and Wednesday mornings.
Experience Düsseldorf — from the hotel.
31 rooms in Friedrichstadt, within walking distance of Königsallee and the Rhine. Book directly with the hotel for the best rate, with cancellation terms that depend on the rate.