Art and culture are visible everywhere in the Düsseldorf  cityscape – they are essentially part of the city’s DNA.  Düsseldorf’s roots as an art metropolis date back to 1690  and Elector Johann Wilhelm, affectionately known as Jan Wellem. This enlightened ruler and his wife, Anna Maria Luisa de’ Medici, made the then sleepy town on the Rhine into a centre of art and culture. Today, with its many museums, galleries and art in public spaces, Düsseldorf still occupies a special position because nowhere else is an involvement with art so deeply rooted as here.

The Kunstsammlung NRW shows 20th and 21st century art, the Kunsthalle’s ultra-modern exhibitions have their finger 
on the pulse, the NRW-Forum specialises in contemporary photography, while the Kunstpalast is worth a visit simply to see the temporary exhibitions and a Rubens collection that was created by Jan Wellem. The paintings, graphic art, sculptures and glass objects in the museum’s collection range from the ancient world to the 21st century. Visitors have a chance to assess the future development of contemporary art at the annual tour of the renowned Kunstakademie. This is where tomorrow’s stars of the art scene are on show.

The “in orbit” installation by Tomás Saraceno at the K21 Stände­­haus is very interesting, particularly for youngsters. Some 2,500 square metres of transparent steel nets extend high above the piazza. It is not only the visual but also the performing arts that are represented in Düsseldorf. At the beautiful Tonhalle there are regular concerts by composers ranging from Bach to Beethoven, and Brahms to Bruckner. Deutsche Oper am Rhein is famed both for its operas and its highly acclaimed ballet company. At the Tanzhaus NRW too, one can see dance of the highest standard. In addition, the Schauspielhaus is considered to be one of the leading German-language theatres. And with the new Wehrhahn line, Düsseldorf has even turned underground stations into works of art.

Further information at duesseldorf-tourismus.de