Until when does the exhibition Waste Beasts!? run?

The special exhibition runs until September 6, 2026.

What is the entrance fee?

The entrance fee is 5 euros for adults, reduced 3 euros. Children under 6 years have free admission.

Is the Natural History Museum barrier-free?

Yes, according to museum information there is a barrier-free access as well as restrooms and changing tables.

Are there guided tours for the exhibition?

Yes, the museum offers guided tours and family tours around Waste Beasts!?.

Where is the museum located?

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

Which animals are the focus of the exhibition?

The focus includes, among others, mosquitoes, raccoons, anacondas, and the white shark.

Mosquito, Raccoon, Shark: Kassel's Special Exhibition Changes the Perspective on Animals

Name: Waste Beasts!?
Start: 2026-06-06T12:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-09-07T01:59:59+02:00
Location: Naturkundemuseum im Ottoneum

Waste Beasts!? at the Natural History Museum in the Ottoneum: When Fear Becomes Understanding

The special exhibition Waste Beasts!? at the Natural History Museum in the Ottoneum Kassel focuses on animals that are often hastily considered bothersome, threatening, or unnecessary. Whether it's a mosquito, raccoon, anaconda, or shark: The exhibition questions prejudices, ecological connections, and the role of these species in the fabric of biodiversity. The exhibition runs until September 6, 2026 and combines natural science education with a precise, contemporary perspective on the coexistence of humans and animals. ([kasselkultur.de](https://www.kasselkultur.de/einrichtungen/naturkundemuseum/ausstellungen/sonderausstellung.php?utm_source=openai))

An Artistic Experience of Natural History

Even the venue gives the exhibition a special atmosphere: The Ottoneum, a historic building in the heart of Kassel, is one of the city's prominent cultural sites and houses natural historical rarities of European significance. The viewing of the works here is not in the classical sense of art, but as an aesthetic experience in the space of natural history, where specimens, objects, and educational stations draw attention to details that are often easily overlooked. ([kasselkultur.de](https://www.kasselkultur.de/kultur-in-kassel/museen-und-parks/naturkundemuseum-im-ottoneum.php?utm_source=openai))

Why We Wrongly Judge Some Animals

The exhibition works on a central idea of cultural education: Not every animal that causes discomfort is actually dangerous. Particularly the topics of mosquito, raccoon, anaconda, and white shark open the view for differentiated perception instead of plakative rejection. The museum’s approach explains why biological diversity is not an abstract formula, but a prerequisite for stable material cycles and thus our own basis for life. ([kasselkultur.de](https://www.kasselkultur.de/einrichtungen/naturkundemuseum/ausstellungen/sonderausstellung.php?utm_source=openai))

Education, Guidance, and Audience Experience

The accompanying program includes tours and special event formats around the special exhibition, including family tours and curator-led tours. The museum describes the exhibition as a conciliatory view of the so-called waste beasts and their innocent relatives. This creates an artistic experience in the broader sense: a lively, educational, and sensory approach to nature, perception, and coexistence. ([kasselkultur.de](https://www.kasselkultur.de/einrichtungen/naturkundemuseum/ausstellungen/sonderausstellung.php?utm_source=openai))

The Ottoneum as a Cultural Site with History

Visitors to the Natural History Museum experience not only an exhibition but a historic museum location with a permanent collection and strong educational profile. The house presents, among other things, the Ratzenberger Herbarium, the Goethe Elephant, and the Schildbach Wood Library; at the same time, it offers barrier-free access as well as restrooms and changing tables. Thus, the museum is equally recommended for families, nature enthusiasts, and culturally open-minded visitors. ([kasselkultur.de](https://www.kasselkultur.de/kultur-in-kassel/museen-und-parks/naturkundemuseum-im-ottoneum.php?utm_source=openai))

Conclusion: Waste Beasts!? invites you to question common judgments about animals and to rediscover the ecological significance of even those species that initially seem foreign to us. Anyone who appreciates natural science, illustrative museum education, and intelligent exhibition design should definitely experience this showcase live in the Ottoneum. ([kasselkultur.de](https://www.kasselkultur.de/einrichtungen/naturkundemuseum/ausstellungen/sonderausstellung.php?utm_source=openai))