From the Stone Age to the Future: Discover the Neander Valley in a giant PLAYMOBIL world.
With thousands of figures and lovingly designed scenes, you’ll immerse yourself in the history of the Neander Valley: From the Ice Age landscape of Neanderthals and mammoths, through industrial limestone mining, to today’s popular tourist destination.
Travel through thousands of years of history with an impressive, 10-metre-long PLAYMOBIL diorama at the heart of the exhibition!
From the Stone Age to the Middle Ages, the Industrial Revolution and the famous discovery of the Neanderthal fossils, all the way to the present day and beyond. Explore how the Neandertal valley has changed over thousands of years and discover its fascinating history in miniature!
Colourful paths lead you from the central timeline through the exhibition, inviting you to explore little PLAYMOBIL worlds along the way. Each one brings a different chapter of the Neandertal's fascinating history to life!
At the end of your journey through time, a dedicated play area awaits! Let your imagination run wild at the PLAYMOBIL play tables, get creative with colouring sheets and drawing activities, and even leave your own mark on the exhibition. Your artwork could become part of the Neandertal story!
Dress up and strike a pose with our giant PLAYMOBIL figures! Capture a fun memory of your visit to the Neandertal and take it home with you. Who knows? Maybe your photo will become part of the Neanderthal Museum's next anniversary exhibition in a few years!
What was the Neandertal like before it became a world-famous archaeological site and a popular destination for visitors?
In the second part of the exhibition, local people share their personal stories of the Neandertal they knew and loved.
Discover memories of family outings, dance evenings, traditional inns and the little railway that once ran through the valley. But also stories of war, persecution and the darker chapters of its past.
Through eyewitness accounts, historic photographs and personal keepsakes, you'll discover a place where generations of people lived, worked and spent their free time.
Make yourself comfortable in our recreated living room and explore the personal stories you won't find in a traditional history book.
The amazing PLAYMOBIL dioramas in the exhibition were created by Oliver Schaffer, a Hamburg-based exhibition artist and set designer who brings entire stories to life through incredibly detailed miniature worlds.
For kids, there's a whole world of tiny details waiting to be discovered.
And for grown-ups?
Don't be surprised if these little figures bring back some big childhood memories. After all, who doesn't remember the magic of playing with PLAYMOBIL?
The Neanderthal Museum is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2026 – and we've got more than just a brand-new special exhibition to celebrate!
Our permanent exhibition has also been given an exciting makeover, with lots of new highlights waiting to be explored.
So even if your last journey back to the Stone Age wasn't that long ago, there's never been a better time to come back for another adventure!
Explore our permanent exhibition, the new special exhibition PLAYMOBIL – A Journey Through Time and the Höhlenblick Adventure Tower.
The PLAYMOBIL special exhibition is already included in your museum admission at no extra cost!
Zum 30. Geburtstag wartet noch ein besonderes Extra auf euch: ein Ticketbundle mit dem Erlebnisticket und der limitierten PLAYMOBIL-Figur. Mehr dazu in Kürze.
Alle Tickets können auch an der Tageskasse erworben werden.
Das ideale Geschenk zum Geburtstag, Weihnachten oder jedem anderen Anlass. Verschenke einen Eintrittsgutschein inklusive der limitierten PLAYMOBIL-Figur.
The PLAYMOBIL journey through time is here for a limited time only, from 21 November 2026 to 7 November 2027.
And there's another great reason to visit: the Neanderthal Museum is celebrating its 30th anniversary with exciting new features and experiences throughout its permanent exhibition.
In short: A brand-new special exhibition. Plenty of new highlights to explore. And perhaps a nostalgic reunion with some familiar little figures from your childhood!
A journey through time exploring the history of the Neanderthals, brought to life with detailed PLAYMOBIL dioramas, offers many opportunities for playful discovery and hands-on participation.
Admission to this special exhibition is included in the regular museum admission fee.
From November 21, 2026, to November 7, 2027, during the Neanderthal Museum's regular hours of operation.
At the Neanderthal Museum in Mettmann, which is easily accessible from Düsseldorf, Wuppertal, and the Rhineland. Our address is Talstraße 300, 40822 Mettmann.
The special exhibition runs from November 21, 2026, to November 7, 2027.
No. Admission to the special exhibition is included in the regular museum admission fee.
The PLAYMOBIL exhibition is suitable for children ages 4 to 5 and up.
No. The exhibition is designed as a shared journey through time for families. The detailed dioramas and the history of Neanderthal man offer plenty for adults to discover as well.
The dioramas were created by Oliver Schaffer, an exhibition artist and set designer from Hamburg who is known for his elaborate PLAYMOBIL displays.
The “Our Neander Valley” section of the exhibition tells the story of the valley’s recent history through eyewitness accounts, photographs, and memorabilia. Of course, your ticket also includes admission to our permanent exhibition and the archaeological site, including the Höhlenblick observation tower.
Another exciting program of hands-on activities awaits families. Guided tours, children’s nights, workshops, and other activities related to the exhibition are currently being planned.
A journey through time exploring the history of the Neanderthals, brought to life with detailed PLAYMOBIL dioramas, offers many opportunities for playful discovery and hands-on participation.
Admission to this special exhibition is included in the regular museum admission fee.
From November 21, 2026, to November 7, 2027, during the Neanderthal Museum's regular hours of operation.
At the Neanderthal Museum in Mettmann, which is easily accessible from Düsseldorf, Wuppertal, and the Rhineland. Our address is Talstraße 300, 40822 Mettmann.
The special exhibition runs from November 21, 2026, to November 7, 2027.
No. Admission to the special exhibition is included in the regular museum admission fee.
The PLAYMOBIL exhibition is suitable for children ages 4 to 5 and up.
No. The exhibition is designed as a shared journey through time for families. The detailed dioramas and the history of Neanderthal man offer plenty for adults to discover as well.
The dioramas were created by Oliver Schaffer, an exhibition artist and set designer from Hamburg who is known for his elaborate PLAYMOBIL displays.
The “Our Neander Valley” section of the exhibition tells the story of the valley’s recent history through eyewitness accounts, photographs, and memorabilia. Of course, your ticket also includes admission to our permanent exhibition and the archaeological site, including the Höhlenblick observation tower.
Another exciting program of hands-on activities awaits families. Guided tours, children’s nights, workshops, and other activities related to the exhibition are currently being planned.
