Upcoming exhibitions
2026
Quite Privileged! Lübeck and the Imperial Freedom
Hardly any other year is as significant for Lübeck’s history as 1226. With the charter issued by Emperor Frederick II, Lübeck was elevated to the status of a free imperial city in that year – a milestone that shaped the city’s political, economic and cultural development for centuries to come.
The exhibition ‘Quite Privileged! Lübeck and the Imperial Freedom’ at the Burgkloster in Lübeck showcases various aspects of this special ‘privilege’ through numerous objects from the past and present – including the original of what is arguably the most significant document in Lübeck’s history.
A special exhibition by the Archives of the Hanseatic City of Lübeck, running from 18 May 2026 to 23 August 2026 at the Burgkloster of the European Hansemuseum.
2026-2027
Let's Play Mittelalter
With »Let’s Play Mittelalter«, the European Hansemuseum is planning an innovative exhibition starting on 9 October 2026 that goes far beyond classic museum presentations. The exhibition space in the museum’s Castle Friary will be transformed into an exciting world of games for a year. We use the mechanisms of games – interactivity, immersion and playful learning – to actively involve visitors.
The exhibition explores questions such as: How are the Middle Ages portrayed in games? Which aspects of the past are included? What role does authenticity play? And how do games influence us as a society? We create a playable experience in which guests consciously make decisions about rules, intervene in historical processes, interact with characters and change the course of history and stories. In this way, we create a meaningful experience that is not only functional, but also emotional and transformative, similar to what good games do.
The aim of the exhibition is to create a critical awareness of the representation of history in games. »Let’s Play Mittelalter« shows how history is interpreted and instrumentalised in games. It promotes skills in source and media criticism and an awareness that games, as a mass medium, have a decisive influence on current discourse.
»Let’s Play Mittelalter«: from 9 October 2026 to 31 October 2027 at the European Hansemuseum in Lübeck.
Do you have any ideas, are you interested in collaborations, or do you have any questions on the topic? We look forward to hearing from you!
Contact: Franziska Evers, franziska.evers@hansemuseum.eu.
