Moyland Castle

Moyland Castle near Bedburg-Hau on the Lower Rhine is a neo-Gothic moated castle that doubles as one of the region's most important museums of modern art. It holds the world's largest collection of works by Joseph Beuys, and its historic park adds contemporary sculpture, herb gardens and a café. If you are looking for things to do near the Dutch border in North Rhine-Westphalia, this is a rewarding half-day stop.

Where it is and how to get there

The castle lies in the Kleve district in the far west of North Rhine-Westphalia, close to the Dutch border. Buses 44 (Xanten-Kleve) and X27 (Wesel-Kleve) stop at the castle; a Deutschlandticket usually covers regional buses in North Rhine-Westphalia. By car, set your navigation to "Parkplatz Schloss Moyland, Moyländer Allee 3." The postal address is Am Schloss 4, 47551 Bedburg-Hau. Bicycles can be rented through Niederrheinrad.

A short history

A fortified court called Moyland appears in records in 1307 and was rebuilt as a Gothic castle between 1345 and 1355. In 1662 Alexander von Spaen turned it into a Baroque palace. In 1696 Frederick I of Brandenburg acquired it as a hunting lodge, and in 1740 Frederick II met Voltaire here. A neo-Gothic redesign of the exterior between 1854 and 1862 gave the castle its present look. After heavy damage in World War II and a fire in 1956, a foundation established in 1990 restored it, and it reopened as a museum on May 24, 1997.

What to see

The museum houses nearly 5,000 works by Joseph Beuys plus the Joseph Beuys Archive, built on the collection of the brothers Hans and Franz Joseph van der Grinten. In 2026 the program includes the collection show "KOMM RUNTER!", "Brigitte Waldach in Dialogue with Joseph Beuys" (September 20, 2026 to February 28, 2027) and "Katharina Sieverding in Dialogue with Joseph Beuys" (October 11, 2026 to February 8, 2027). The park, restored between 1995 and 1997, shows sculptures by artists such as Eduardo Chillida and Antoni Tàpies, and its herb garden has 16 themed beds with more than 300 herbs. The viewing level of the north tower is closed until further notice.

Tickets and opening hours (as of October 2026)

A ticket for museum and park costs 9 EUR in the museum's online shop; reduced tickets exist for students aged 18 and over and for NiederrheinCard holders. It is valid on any date and for all exhibitions, but excludes guided tours, workshops and markets. A guided tour of "KOMM RUNTER!" costs 4 EUR. A combined ticket for the Lower Rhine art museums (Kurhaus Kleve, Haus Koekkoek in Goch and Moyland) costs 19 EUR and is valid for 365 days. The museum's homepage does not list opening hours; a garden network directory gives Tuesday to Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., for October to March, so confirm before you visit. Admission is free from 6 p.m. on October 15, 2026 (Langer Donnerstag). English-language tours are not mentioned in the sources.

Practical tips

Allow two to three hours for exhibitions and the park. The Café Castello Moyland and Bar Mezzogiorno are on site. Families may like the park's tree house with a suspension bridge, according to the garden network. For access and dog rules, see the accessibility page on the museum website.