The anticipation was great when the Struwwelpeter Museum moved into its new premises in September 2019, in a central location in the middle of the new old town.

After more than 40 years in the Westend, there should be more space for special exhibitions and events in the new, significantly larger area, which should inspire even more visitors for the famous stories of Heinrich Hoffmann.

But after the promising start with 20,000 visitors in the first quarter, Corona came - and the private museum had to close again six months after the move.

It was an "extremely hard time", says museum director Beate Zekorn-von Bebenburg.

"We are optimistic about the future"

Nicole Nadine Seliger

Editor in the Rhein-Main-Zeitung

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For a few months now she has been observing an upswing in her house.

Since the summer holidays of 2022, the museum has been able to really get going again, the number of visitors has increased again, "also due to travel tourism and the 9-euro ticket" last summer, she says.

The school groups are also “slowly coming back”.

In view of the temporary closure of the house, Zekorn-von Bebenburg describes the fact that around 20,000 visitors came again in the whole of 2022 as “not bad” and adds: “We are optimistic about the future.”

The team used the "quiet time" to further develop the museum.

Thanks to the restart funding, audio guides have been created that have been leading through the house in seven languages ​​since spring 2022.

An offer that is very much appreciated by the visitors, says Zekorn-von Bebenburg.

The museum received around 50,000 euros from the federal government’s restart funding;

In addition to the guide, investments were also made in digitization measures and in hygiene and disinfection products.

"Some things we could not have afforded without the federal funding," says the director happily.

Because the structure of the museum, which has been preserving the cultural heritage of the Frankfurt doctor Heinrich Hoffmann for more than 40 years, is special.

As a 100% subsidiary of the Frankfurt work community, the house sees itself as an inclusive company, employs people with and without disabilities, promotes their participation in society and thus continues the intellectual attitude of the psychiatrist Hoffmann.

Some of the products in the museum shop, especially the stationery, are made in workshops by people with disabilities.

The shop at the museum was closed for eight months due to the pandemic. The products were available via the online shop during this time, "but that can't replace the shop," says Zekorn-von Bebenburg.

Due to financial losses, the museum had to rely on help during the pandemic, including the parent company supporting the house.

Nevertheless, the staff was reduced during this time from the original twelve employees to currently ten: "But we want to get back to twelve," she says.