The Haniel Museum is housed in the historic “Packhaus” building in Duisburg-Ruhrort. Spread across three floors, visitors experience how Haniel evolved from a local trading company into an internationally active corporate group, through original documents, historic furnishings, and carefully restored living and working spaces. The exhibition also illustrates how closely Haniel’s history is intertwined with the economic and industrial development of the Ruhr region. It documents the company’s contribution to industrialization and its formative role in Ruhrort.
Founding house from 1756: Approval by Prussian King Frederick II paved the way
The “Packhaus” itself is a central part of this history. Built in 1756 outside the gates of Ruhrort, it served in the 18th century both as a warehouse for so-called “colonial goods” such as spices, tobacco, coffee, and cotton, and as the Haniel family’s residence and trading office. Franz Haniel was born there in 1779. The building can be traced back to Aletta Haniel, née Noot, and her father Jan Willem Noot, who was as a customs inspector in Ruhrort. The building permit for the “Packhaus” was granted by Prussian King Frederick II on 10 February 1756. This date is regarded as the founding year of today’s Franz Haniel & Cie. GmbH, which therefore looks back on a 270-year tradition.
“The exhibition shows how Haniel has continually transformed itself throughout its history in order to remain successful. Visitors can experience this development up close in the founding house of 1756,” says Julia Heitmann, Museum Director and Head of Communications & CSR at the Duisburg-based company.
Guided tours and booking
Guided 90-minute tours (in German) take place on the third Thursday of every month (except August), at 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm. The first tour available for booking is on 19 February.
Bookings can be made via the Duisburg Kontor tourism website at:
https://www.duisburg.de/tourismus/stadt_erleben/museen/haniel-museum.php
• Admission prices: €10 for adults, €5 for children (ages 8 to 13 inclusive)
• Maximum group size: 20 visitors
