When does the exhibition take place?

The exhibition begins on 25.08.2026 at 10:00 AM. The end is scheduled for autumn 2026.

How much does admission cost?

Regular admission for adults is 5 euros. Discounts and free admissions are available for certain groups.

Where is the Natural History Museum located?

The Natural History Museum in the Ottoneum is located at Steinweg 2 in 34117 Kassel.

Is the museum accessible?

Yes, according to visitor information, the building offers barrier-free access as well as WC and changing table.

Are there official online channels of the museum?

Yes, the museum is officially present on Instagram, Facebook, and through the website.

Who is the exhibition particularly suitable for?

The exhibition is suitable for nature-interested adults, families, school classes, and anyone who wants to connect animal knowledge with perspective change.

An Exhibition About Fear of Animals, Knowledge, and Wonder in the Historic Ottoneum

Name: Beasts!? at the Natural History Museum in the Ottoneum
Start: 2026-08-25T12:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-09-30T19:00:00+02:00
Location: Naturkundemuseum im Ottoneum

Beasts!? at the Ottoneum: When Fear of Animals Meets Thirst for Knowledge

The special exhibition Beasts!? at the Natural History Museum in the Ottoneum invites visitors to an unusually clever examination of nature: It highlights those animal species that people often find annoying, threatening, or simply eerie. In Kassel, a different kind of art experience emerges, in which scientific communication, exhibition atmosphere, and aesthetic experience intertwine.

From Goosebumps to Insight

What appears to be a disturbance in everyday life becomes the starting point for a precise museum narrative here. Mosquitoes, raccoons, anacondas, and the great white shark symbolize not only fear and aversion, but also ecological contexts, adaptation strategies, and misunderstandings between humans and animals. The exhibition demonstrates how quickly entire animal groups can become scapegoats and how important their role remains for biodiversity and material cycles.

A Natural History Museum as a Place of Perspective Change

The Ottoneum incorporates its great natural history tradition into this presentation. As one of Kassel's most distinctive museum buildings, it combines historical architecture with contemporary knowledge dissemination. The exhibition builds on the strengths of the institution: Natural history is not explained dryly, but made vividly, visually, and sensually experienceable. This gives the topic of human-animal conflict a remarkable emotional depth.

Biology, Ecology, and Cultural Education

Behind the cheeky title lies solid cultural education. The exhibition inquires about habitats, protection and devaluation, and the relationship between fear and knowledge. Those who visit the special exhibition encounter not just individual species, but an attitude: to look more closely, to examine prejudices, and to understand ecological connections. This makes the visit equally attractive for families, school classes, and adults interested in natural history.

Interactive Character and Lively Communication

The Natural History Museum in Kassel is known for interactive presentations, special exhibitions, and a versatile event program. Beasts!? is expected to consistently continue this communication approach: illustrative stations, striking images, and a dialogue between research and the audience. Thus a museum visit is created that does not instruct but sparks curiosity.

Conclusion: Beasts!? promises to be an entertaining yet enlightening exhibition about animals that we too quickly judge. Those who want to not just see nature but understand it should definitely experience this exhibition at the Natural History Museum in the Ottoneum live.