Image Copyright: Spielmuseum Soltau

A house full of toy dreams from bygone times.
The North German toy museum in Soltau is a testament of a private engagement: For 25 years it presents the collection of family Ernst. The collection started with a porcelain-head doll from a household clearance roughly 40 years ago. then over the years toys like children's shops, teddy bears, wooden animals and building sets. Today the collection consist of objects from four centuries and is one of the most important toy collections worldwide.

Image Copyright: Spielmuseum Soltau

In the year 2005 the collection was given to a non-profit foundation Spiel. Since then the toy museum has been managed by them and has further toy projects initiated and reasilsed.
Family Ernst is still tightly connected with the toy museum: The musem founder Hannelore Ernst coordinates the daily museum's work on a honorary basis. There are also 30 voluntary helper, which keep up the work 365 days a year. Mathias Ernst, son of the museum's founder and his wife Frau Antje Ernst manage the museum as directors of the foundation Spiel also honorary.
It's their goal to transform this toy museum into a European play and story house. Apart from the presentation of historical toys, it should evoke memories and tell stories, encourage participation and bring the generations playful to talk to each other.
First steps into that direction have been done with the offering of several play choices in the museum. Whether children, dressed up, sitting in the old classroom and practicing writing with slate pens or the whole family plays 'Ludo' and tries to bump each other from the board, or whether light goes on with the touch of a button or the circus orchestra plays – there is a lot to discover and try out at many places.
And the offer is constantly extended.
In the year 2009 the change, which had started in the last years was finally implemented: The North German toy museum became the Toy Museum Soltau just in time for the 25th birthday.