30 years of Naturmusée in the Grund

Description

Discover, experience and understand natural history

The relocation of Luxembourg’s National Museum of Natural History, also known as the Naturmusée, in 1996 marked an important turning point in the history of the museum. Thirty years ago, the museum left its long-standing site at the Fish Market in Luxembourg’s historic city centre and moved into its new premises in the Grund district.

The main reasons for the move were the significant growth of the museum’s natural history collections as well as its expanding responsibilities in the areas of research, education and knowledge transfer. The previous premises, which the Naturmusée had shared with the National Museum of History and Art, had become too small and could no longer meet the modern requirements of a museum geared towards public access and educational offerings, with a lack of space for contemporary exhibitions, educational programmes and suitable workspaces for scientists.

Towards the end of the 1980s, it was decided that the two museums would be separated into two institutions, and in 1988, the National Museum of Natural History was established as an independent institution. Shortly afterwards, the decision was made to restore the historic Hospice Saint-Jean in the Grund district and convert it for the museum’s purposes. With its relocation in 1996, the National Museum of Natural History was able to establish itself as the central institution in Luxembourg for both research into biodiversity and geodiversity as well as for the conveying of natural history and natural sciences.