© Courtesy of Migliore+Servetto / Andrea Martiradonna
The Museum
Inside the newly redesigned Schengen Museum, visitors explore the past, present, and future of a borderless Europe through an immersive exhibition. Themes such as freedom of movement, borders, identity, and cooperation are brought to life in a way that invites reflection, discovery, and participation. The experience continues just a few steps away – on board the historic Prinzessin Marie-Astrid Europa.
The Exhibition
The museum exhibition invites visitors on an engaging journey through the idea of a borderless Europe. It alternates moments of exploration and reflection, and focuses on diversity, integration, and shared European experience. The story of borders in Europe unfolds through four key themes – from historical divisions to the vision of a continent connected.
Europe of Borders – How boundaries shaped a continent
Discover how borders defined European identity and sovereignty. Learn how territorial changes and political decisions created the boundaries we know today.
Schengen: Europe Without Borders – From vision to reality
What started as a bold idea in 1985 became a landmark achievement. Follow the creation and impact of the Schengen Area – and understand why it’s crucial to Europe’s future.
The Borders of Schengen – Opening doors, and defending them
Explore how Schengen removed internal borders, but also led to new challenges at external ones. This section highlights the balance between freedom of movement and security.
The Schengen Myth – Schengen in culture and imagination
Schengen is more than politics – it’s a cultural symbol. See how artists, thinkers, and musicians have been inspired by the idea of open borders.
The exhibition is fully trilingual – all texts are available in English, French, and German.
At the end of your visit, you can create and print your own personalized Schengen passport – a fun keepsake to take home.
Kids aged 6-12 enjoy our playful “Schengen booklet” that turns the story of borders into an interactive and engaging adventure.
© Courtesy of Migliore+Servetto / Andrea Martiradonna
The Cube – Stories of Schengen
The Cube, the centerpiece of the exhibition, is a space where the story of Schengen becomes tangible – through the voices of people whose everyday lives are shaped by borders: those who cross them, grow up near them, or work to protect them. This part of the museum doesn’t explain – it invites. It encourages visitors to slow down, to listen, and to reflect. The stories unfold quietly, offering layered perspectives on what Schengen means in real life. Sometimes moving, sometimes unexpected – always personal. A quiet space that leaves a lasting impression.
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The Schengen Agreement
In 1985, five countries came together by the Moselle River to sign an agreement that would shape Europe’s future. The Schengen Agreement was a significant step in creating a space for easier movement and greater cooperation across borders. Today, the Schengen Museum offers a chance to reflect on this decisive moment in history. Explore exhibits that tell the story of the agreement through displays, personal stories, and a piece of the Berlin Wall. Learn how the Schengen Area grew and how it impacts the lives of millions of Europeans. From the signing on the MS Princesse Marie-Astrid to the expansion of Schengen across many countries, this museum provides insight into the development of a more connected Europe. It’s an opportunity to understand the past and its ongoing significance in shaping Europe today.
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The museum has been designed from a dynamic perspective, as a summation of almost theatrical acts based around a central nucleus, the large cube of flags, which takes the visitor to another participatory dimension, engaging with time and space.
Mara Servetto – Migliore+Servetto
The Transformation
See how the museum was transformed — from construction to completion.
Start your Schengen experience here
The Schengen Museum is the perfect place to discover the Spirit of Schengen and explore what’s beyond.
