So, as I said in my previous post, we returned to Düsseldorf in the summertime. Twice actually: we started our German trip in the city, because Maarten wanted to visit an art-exhibition that had its last day on the start of our trip and after a week we returned, to spend some time with our friends and explore the Unesco Worldheritage sites in the area a bit more.
We started our trip at the Königsallee again. Yes, it was a Sunday again, so free parking. The lane is actually even nicer in summertime, with all the trees green. The classy fountains were now also working, which added to the atmosphere.
The art museum Maarten wanted to visit, is really closeby. They had a special exhibition about Kandinsky, Malewich and Mondrian, which happen to be 3 of his favourite painters ever. He wasn’t allowed to photograph during this temporary exhibit, but could snap pictures in their permanent collection, which was equally beautiful. In fact, he spotted the nicest work there.
K21 entrance at Grabbeplatz.
In the blue – Kandinsky (1925) – permanent exhibit.
Composition X – Kandinsky (1939) – permanent exhibit. Maartens favourite!
Ornamental sculpture on a split frame – Schlemmer (1919-1923) – permanent exhibit.
Women and birds in the night – Miró (1945) – permanent exhibit
At the first clear world – Ernst (1923) – permanent exhibit.
Scène primitive 4 – Trockel (2006) – permanent exhibit.
Detail – it is actually crochet! 🙂
Number 32 – Pollock (1950) – permanent exhibit. That would be Annicks favourite 😉
Big painting nr 6 – Liechtenstein (1965) – permanent exhibit.
Düsseldorf has two big art museums. This one, the K21, show art (Kunst, hence the K) of the 21st century. The K20 shows older work, you guessed it, of the 20th century.
At that day we were travelling with two toddlers and a baby (one of those our own Febe). Now art museums and little kids usually don’t mix well. Febe loves art, but she’s at that age you can’t keep her quiet. Yes, and let that be what art museums usually want: silence, because apparantly there is a written rule you can only enjoy art while being absolutely silent. So, while Maarten was nurturing his inner self, the rest of us chose not to get stressed about loud kids and we went for the better option with kids…
ICE-CREAM and the banks of the Rhine: ideal!
We will write more about the area around Düsseldorf in later posts, but if you decide to travel with kids there in summertime: here are two extra tips in the city you don’t want to miss out on.
1. The water playground
Location of the Wasserspielplatz.
We had played with Febe in one in Koblenz as well (which will be covered in a later post) and the one is Düsseldorf was amazing. Big and a lot of fun. For Febe maybe a bit too crowded: she’s quite shy and she had a bad day and thus a bad start at first, but enjoyed it later on.
A couple of hints: bring your own food and drink – you can’t buy anything there. Also: there are no public toilets near (or, well, there are, but they were locked). Not so handy with fresh water and small kids. Maybe they can go behind a bush if need is high, but for us adults a little more difficult – so go before you head there!
2. The Rhein Kirmes
In July there is a big fair that is held at the banks of the Rhine. And with big, I mean big! Like in: massive. We were there for an hour and a half before heat and vertigo got the better of me and we had to leave, and I think we covered maybe 10% of the fair. This year it ran from the 11th untill the 20th of July, in 2015 the fair will be held from 17 – 26 July; so you might want to check the dates before planning your trip.
On the last Friday evening there is a big firework (and Germans really mean big when they say big: it lasted at least 40 minutes).
Stalls at the Kirmes!
Toddler fun!
Huge slide! Can you spot Febe and Maarten?
You can take a small ferry boat to get to the Kirmes ground, and on your return – they serve lovely food alongside the Rhine. I had the best Flammkuche there, with goats cheese, olives and rucola.
Flammkuche – a must-eat when you are in the area!
-A-
