Krefeld: Textile History, Art and Discoveries

Krefeld combines a long tradition of textile manufacturing with art, insights into traditional crafts and activities for young explorers. The nickname “City of Silk” recalls the town’s textile history. When planning your trip, you can choose from different areas of interest, such as the history and display of textiles, fine and applied art, or experiences at the zoo and the Flax Market.

Experience traditional crafts at the Flax Market

At the Flax Market around Burg Linn, more than 300 exhibitors from Germany and nearby countries demonstrate at Whitsun how clothing, cultural goods and everyday objects are made using traditional methods. The market brings historic craft techniques to life through a range of objects: the focus is not just on clothing, but also on items connected with cultural life and everyday use. Visitors can also try their hand at a selected traditional craft under the guidance of professionals. Those who enjoy watching before trying something themselves can do both as part of one experience. For families, the Flax Market can be a shared outing with a practical, hands-on focus.

Explore and learn at Krefeld Zoo

At Krefeld Zoo, children and young people can explore the connection between local environmental and nature conservation and global efforts to protect biodiversity in the research lab and through the educational programmes of the BNE Regional Centre at the Forscherhaus. The perspective extends from protecting nature locally to a global outlook. This gives young visitors an educational introduction to environmental and nature conservation that goes beyond simply observing. There are also places to eat and drink around the Grotenburgschlösschen, including a terrace and a restaurant. A visit can therefore include a place to eat as well as an educational activity.

Art and textiles in the museums

The Kunstmuseen Krefeld comprises Haus Lange, Haus Esters and the Kaiser Wilhelm Museum. Its focus is on fine and applied art from the 20th and 21st centuries. Those interested in art can make a note of these three venues as options for a museum visit; the collection’s focus spans two centuries.

The German Textile Museum complements this introduction to the City of Silk with a collection of 30,000 preserved textiles. These include Late Antique tunics, wafer-thin christening gowns and exquisite evening wear—pieces with very different purposes and appearances. The museum has no permanent exhibition. Selected textiles are regularly presented in themed exhibitions, for example on “German Couture”, “Traditional Dress or Fashion” and liturgical textiles. A visit therefore centres on changing themed exhibitions rather than a permanent display of the collection.

More impressions and getting your bearings

The Stadtwald is another option during a stay in Krefeld and is open year-round. This may be useful when planning your trip if you would like to include a visit to the Stadtwald alongside museums and events. The different themes leave room to choose your own focus: textile history and crafts, art, nature and environmental education, or an outing in the green.

When looking for a holiday apartment in Krefeld, you can first consider which of these interests you would like to shape your stay. For more information on the area, see Bockum.

For the overview of the wider destination, see: Krefeld.