The museum belongs to the Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change, which was created by merging the Zoological Museum Hamburg and the Alexander Koenig Research Museum in Bonn.
The institution houses a significant collection of 'type specimens,' which are the original physical examples used to describe and name new species.
Its scientific collection contains approximately 10 million individual items, though only a small fraction is on display.
The museum specializes in the study of specific groups such as Hymenoptera (bees, ants, wasps) and various marine invertebrates.
The building serves as both a public museum and a high-level laboratory for taxidermy and digital 3D imaging of biological specimens.
The Museum of Nature - Zoology in Hamburg, part of the Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change, functions primarily as a scientific research institution with public exhibition galleries. The collection focuses on global biodiversity, featuring specimens ranging from insects and mollusks to large mammals and birds. It holds millions of scientific specimens, making it one of the most significant natural history archives in Germany. The permanent exhibition presents evolutionary biology through diverse taxonomic groups. The facility serves as a center for taxidermy and anatomical research. Researchers utilize the museum’s extensive historical archives to document changes in species distribution over centuries. The museum remains integrated into the University of Hamburg campus environment. Educational programs are frequently tied to the ongoing scientific work of the associated Leibniz institutes.
The central display of large mammal taxidermy in the main exhibition hall.
Check the official website for current temporary exhibition themes, as these change periodically to highlight specific research findings.
The museum is smaller than major national history museums; combine your visit with a walk through the surrounding University of Hamburg campus district.
Do not expect a massive, blockbuster-style display; this is a research-oriented institution with a focus on scientific accuracy over interactive, high-tech spectacle.
Closed on Mondays.
