Activities for children
Visiting our museum with children? They’ll definitely enjoy exploring the visitor mine and going up the headframe.
We also offer the opportunity to sign your children up for special children’s workshops and tours. All of these have both theoretical and practical components, so children can expand their knowledge as well as doing hands-on activities.
At the end of each workshop, every child gets to take home a souvenir of their unforgettable day at the Deutsches Bergbau-Museum Bochum.
All the forthcoming dates of our children’s workshops and tours can be found below and in our events calendar.
Many of our workshops can also be booked as events for children’s birthday parties.
Monthly children's workshops
Please visit the calendar on our German version of the website to find out about our upcoming events.
Children’s birthdays
For our children’s birthday activities you can choose between one-hour and two-hour options. As well as having lots of fun, participants take home new knowledge and a souvenir (except for children’s guided tour). Please contact us to discuss the options.
Children’s guided tour of the visitor mine
On a tour of the mine, children get to know the dangerous workplace of the miner. After this they can explore the galleries on their own with an activity sheet. This activity (the “Bergbau-Rallye”) can also be carried out in small groups.
| Duration | 45 – 60 minutes (guided tour) |
| Age group | 6 – 12 years |
| Participants | max. 15 children |
| Admission | 20 € flat fee + 3 € per child; optional extra 0.50 € per child for the “Bergbau-Rallye” (activity trail) |
| Available | Tue – Fri (except on public holidays and during school holidays) |
The lost treasure
To find the treasure hidden in the mine, you need to solve the riddles on the way. Please bring torches!
| Duration | 45 – 60 minutes |
| Age | 7 – 9 years |
| Participants | max. 12 children |
| Admission | 20 € flat fee + 6 € per child |
| Available | Tue – Fri (except on public holidays and during school holidays) |
Miner’s exam
The guided tour of the mine explains everything you need to know about the miner’s workplace. At the end of the tour participants sit the miner’s exam and are awarded a certificate conferring the title of “Knappe” or qualified miner.
| Duration | 1 hour (approx.) |
| Age | 10 – 12 years |
| Participants | max. 15 children |
| Admission | 20 € flat fee + 6 € per child |
| Available | Tue – Fri (except on public holidays and during school holidays) |
The amber grinders
Why was amber so popular and sought-after, for talismans, jewellery and medicine, even in the Stone Age? The amber grinders solve this mystery and go on to make their own amulet.
| Duration | 2 hours (approx.) |
| Age group | 8 – 12 years |
| Participants | max. 15 children and 2 adults |
| Admission | 120 € incl. materials and museum admission |
| Available | Tue – Sun (including public holidays and school holidays) |
The fossil hunters
Even before the dinosaurs, there were fascinating creatures living on our planet. The fossil hunters set out to find the traces of these creatures, and create plaster casts of their favourite fossils.c
| Duration | 2 hours (approx.) |
| Age group | 8 – 12 years |
| Participants | max. 15 children and 2 adults |
| Admission | 120 € incl. materials and museum admission |
| Available | Tue – Sun (including public holidays and school holidays) |
The metal founders
Here children can play the role of Bronze Age artisans and take their product home with them afterwards. At least one parent should be present.
| Duration | 2 hours (approx.) |
| Age group | 8 – 12 years |
| Participants | max. 15 children and 2 adults |
| Admission | 120 € incl. materials and museum admission |
| Available | Tue – Sun (including public holidays and school holidays) |
“Black gold”
It’s the 19th century, and the dominant mood in Europe is gold-rush fever. Everyone wants “black gold”, i.e. coal. Mines spring up like mushrooms. Amid great dangers and in difficult conditions, miners extract the Earth’s resources. The children experience this underground world on an expedition through the mine, then give creative expression to their impressions.
| Duration | 2 hours (approx.) |
| Age group | 8 – 12 years |
| Participants | max. 15 children and 2 adults |
| Admission | 120 € incl. materials and museum admission |
| Available | Tue – Sun (including public holidays and school holidays) |
