The museum

Welcome to the website of the House of Nature! Our environmental education facility is located on the Venusberg in the middle of the Kottenforst. Here you can experience the forest habitat with all your senses - whether in our permanent exhibition on the subject of the urban forest or in the great outdoors with our wide range of activities.

In accordance with the sustainability strategy adopted by the City of Bonn Council in February 2019, Haus der Natur makes an important contribution at local level to achieving the sustainability goal of "high-quality education" through its work and is a regional platform for all those active in the field of education for sustainable development.

Asters bloom in front of the Haus der Natur

The entrance area to the House of Nature

Exterior view of the new House of Nature with the wooden façade

The cottage garden at the House of Nature

Magnifying glass box with insects in the House of Nature

Showcases in the permanent exhibition House of Nature

Information board in the permanent exhibition

Prepared insects in the House of Nature...

... and insect hotels on the doorstep

Perennials and beds in the cottage garden at the Haus der Natur

Sign for pasqueflower in the herb garden at the Haus der Natur

View of a water sprinkler in the cottage garden at the Haus der Natur

Flowers and insect hotel in the cottage garden at the Haus der Natur

Farm garden sign in colorful wooden letters

Kale grows in the farm garden at the Haus der Natur

An information board with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations

A white stag in the game reserve at the Waldau

There is also a white stag in the game reserve at Waldau

The focus of the educational program is the sensory experience of the forest habitat. The various activities are closely interlinked: The permanent exhibition under the theme "Metropolitan Forest" serves as the starting point for the outdoor program in the forest, in the farm garden, on the orchard meadow or on the biodiversity trail. Back at the House of Nature, discoveries from the forest such as soil, leaves or insects can be examined under a microscope in the "forest laboratory".

The House of Nature is run by the City of Bonn. It cooperates with the Rhine-Sieg-Erft Regional Forestry Office and the Rhineland Nature Park, among others. The active support of the Friends' Association makes numerous environmental education activities possible. The Schutzgemeinschaft Deutscher Wald, the Bonn-Rhein-Erft Biological Station and the Museum Koenig Bonn are among those actively supporting the association.

In line with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations, the House of Nature thus contributes to the achievement of goals 4, 15 and 17:

4. quality education
15. life on land
17. partnerships to achieve the goals

Detailed information on the 17 destinations (opens in a new tab)

The permanent exhibition

An approx. 300-year-old tree slice with dates and events on the annual rings.

"Metropolitan forest" is the theme of the permanent exhibition in the Haus der Natur. On around 100 square meters, the concept of sustainability is presented based on forest use and information is provided on the importance of the forest for humans and animals.

Many modules have a local connection: for example, the cultural and historical use of the Kottenforst forest is explained and the native biodiversity of small and large creatures is described. An exciting mix of interactive themed modules and fascinating animal specimens make the permanent exhibition an experience for children and young people as well as adults.

A special highlight is the bee colony, which visitors can observe in the beehive. The exhibition serves as a "forest opener" and arouses curiosity to explore the forest on the doorstep.

The exhibition content is also available in English (opens in a new tab) via QR codes.

The opening hours

Admission is free of charge.