The Boat
The museum admission ticket gives you access to the boat Prinzessin Marie-Astrid Europa, moored opposite the museum building on the Moselle. On the upper deck, discover the Signing room, original site of the signing of the Schengen Agreements of 1985 and 1990, learn about the personalities and be inspired by the spirit of the times.
On the upper deck, discover the Signing room, original site of the signing of the Schengen Agreements of 1985 and 1990, learn about the personalities and be inspired by the spirit of the times.
A floating theatre
The Boat
The renovation of the boat
The design includes the redevelopment and refitting of the historical boat Prinzessin Marie-Astrid Europa, the site of the signing of the Schengen Treaty. The boat and its historical structure, which were worn out by use and the passage of time, serve as the background for the story told, maintaining the original structure of the boat but at the same time creating a continuous dialogue with the new layout of the Museum. The Boat will host new functions, such as a conference space, a temporary exhibition area and a lounge, as well as a new dynamic installation that tells the story of the signing of the Schengen Agreement. The “Signature Room” will allow visitors to travel back in time, transporting them to the same space that welcomed the representatives of the first signatory countries of the Agreement in 1985.
The upper deck: a time machine
The finishes and materials in the upper deck room, as well as the curtains and lamps, recall the atmosphere and aesthetics of the time, integrated with contemporary installations and furnishings. The boat is a large traveling stage machine for hosting flexible narrative scenarios, welcoming visitors to a surprising and dynamic environment.
The lower deck: a multifunctional space
For the lower deck of the boat, a flexible and multifunctional system has been designed that is capable of assuming different spatial configurations that can respond to different needs.
The floating theatre
The Boat
The Princess Marie-Astrid Europa
Not far from the museum, moored on the Moselle River, lies a place of quiet significance: the historic boat where the Schengen Agreement was signed in 1985. It was here that the vision of a Europe without internal borders took a decisive step toward reality.
Today, the Princess Marie-Astrid Europa serves as a floating extension of the museum experience – not as a relic of the past, but as a space for reflection, dialogue, and inspiration. Restored and reimagined, the boat welcomes visitors into an atmosphere shaped by memory, symbolism, and openness.
Walking through its decks, you follow in the footsteps of the politicians and visionaries who believed in a shared European future. The signature room remains a powerful testament to diplomacy and cooperation – and reminds us of how much can begin in a single moment.
The journey continues on board: a place to think, to learn, and to reconnect with the values that unite Europe – across rivers, across cultures, and across generations.
Where a signature changed a continent
