THE
MISSING LINK



Annual Report 2025
“2025 was truly a fantastic year. It demonstrated in a special way and across a wide range of areas what we wanted to achieve with our exhibitions, projects, and our program.”
Dr. Corinna Otto | Director, Draiflessen Collection
In 2025, we united our various projects under the umbrella of the annual theme, "The Missing Link." This term from evolutionary theory inspired very different perspectives and approaches to art, society, and their possible connections. The exhibitions specifically focused on gaps, spaces, and transitions. They asked what we are missing, what connects us, and what we may have forgotten or not yet discovered.
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ROOTED AND BRANCHED
May 4 to August 17, 2025
“The exhibition was about connectedness — the connection between humans and their environment, as well as the interdependence of things in general.”  
Olesja Nein | Curator 

A GARDEN OF FLOWERS
Lilla Tabasso & Crispijn de Passe
May 21 to November 11, 2025
“The exhibition also raises questions about the influence humans have on nature, what constitutes interference with nature and how humans can benefit nature.” 
Iris Ellers | Curator, Liberna Collection

BENEATH THE SURFACE
The Secrets of Panel Paintings
May 21 to November 11, 2025
“We had a number of questions about these works, which are over 500 years old. To answer these questions, we examined the works from art historical, restorative and technological perspectives.”
Nicole Roth | Curator

“It was a very enriching experience to immerse ourselves in scientific and practical work alongside our often very theoretical approach to art.”
Dr. Julia Cwojdzinski | Collection Manager and Curator of this exhibition

MAGICAL WOMEN
October 26, 2025 to November 22, 2026
“The exhibition explored the following questions: What is femininity? What is gender? What are normative forms? What is patriarchy? How can women find their place in society, express criticism, and create space for themselves?”
Birte Hinrichsen | Curator 

THE DEVIL
Myth, Power, Mystery
Kickoff | November 26, 2025 to April 26, 2026
The exhibition highlighted the changes and diversity of the image of the devil—from biblical representations to depictions in popular culture.

PUTTING DOWN ROOTS
On the Trail of C&A in Sneek
Kickoff | November 26, 2025 to April 26, 2026
Where exactly was the now internationally active fashion company C&A founded in 1841? This seemingly simple question has developed into a complex search for clues, which the exhibition was dedicated to. 

Accompanying Program 2025
In 2025, our accompanying program continued to focus on formats designed to deepen, open up, and expand the museum visit. Once again, our offerings were aimed at different age groups and approaches, creating spaces for concentrated viewing, exchange, and shared reflection. New perspectives emerged in dialogue with visitors, in practical work, and in conversation—enriching not only for the audience, but also for ourselves. In close collaboration with the curators, a lively program developed that not only accompanied the exhibitions, but also expanded their content and made them tangible.
more about the accompanying program
Cooperations
LUC TUYMANS
BASILICA DI SAN GIORGIO MAGGIORE, Venedig
May 9, 2025 to February 22, 2026
The Benedictine community Benedicti Claustra Onlus and the Draiflessen Collection presented two new paintings by Belgian artist Luc Tuymans at the Basilica of San Giorgio Maggiore in Venice from May 9, 2025, to February 22, 2026.

THE MIRROR OF PEACE
Ljubljana
June 15 to 27, 2025
As part of the special exhibitions at the Global Heart Summit in Ljubljana (June 15 to 27, 2025), THE MIRROR OF PEACE offered viewers a life-size reflection of themselves alongside the statement: “This is what people who live in peace look like.” 

LANGUAGE/TEXT/IMAGE
Can you see me? Can you hear me?
June 27 to December 7, 2025, ARTHENA FOUNDATION, Düsseldorf
The exhibition was taken over by the KAI 10 | ARTHENA FOUNDATION in Düsseldorf. It was showing under the title “Language/Text/Image. Can you hear me? Can you see me?,” and on display from 27 June to 7 December 2025.

TRUE TO SCALE
ARCHITEKTURGALERIE MÜNCHEN
July 7 to August 2, 2025
The exhibition TRUE TO SCALE, which was first displayed at the Draiflessen Collection from May 15 to October 20, 2024, was presented again at the Architekturgalerie München from 2 July to 2 August 2025.

Number of Visitors

With around 16,000 visitors on site—mostly from within a radius of about 30 to 50 kilometers around Draiflessen—and an additional 130,000 online users, we were able to reach a wide audience. In addition to the high quality of our exhibitions, the positive response in the media was also a decisive factor in this success.

The majority of guests come from within a radius of 30 to 50 kilometers. A look at the postal codes also shows that most of the visitors come from Mettingen itself and—as the next largest place of origin—from Osnabrück. At the same time, there are also many visitors who have traveled further to get here.
Most guests come to Draiflessen based on personal recommendations, followed by reports in newspapers and magazines. When asked, visitors often say that they heard about Draiflessen or read about it a long time ago, but have only now managed to actually come.
Many new visitors are surprised to find a museum here—away from the big cities and cultural centers—that not only impresses architecturally, but also offers elaborately conceived and designed exhibitions. Our museum has therefore become a permanent cultural destination for many.
“Draiflessen – Art and culture,
that brings the region to life!”
Visitor Statistics
Exhibition Visitors
15,785 Visitors
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Visitors Online
130,700 Visitor
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Reviews from the Guestbook
“It's always wonderful to be able to see such high-quality art and well-curated exhibitions here in Mettingen.”
“Absolutely wonderful.”
“A magical exhibition in magical surroundings.”
“Great exhibition and fantastic building.”
Network
By 2025, we had systematically expanded and intensified our network and our collaborations with cultural institutions, universities, and other partners. This cooperation enabled us to deepen our cultural offerings. In addition, research played a central role in further developing content, gaining new inspiration, and expanding our reach. 
Partners (selection):
235media | Abbazia di San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice | Working group of economic archivists OWL | Architekturgalerie München | Astrid Michaelis, scenography | Berlinde de Bruyckere, Artist | Bibelmuseum Münster | Cankarjev Dom, Ljubljana | Carmen Strzelecki, Graphic Designer and Publisher | Caterina Tognon, Gallery Owner | Cordula Ditz, Artist | DA, Kunsthaus Kloster Gravenhorst and many more
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New additions, new perspectives
2025 was an exciting year for the archive and collection: Numerous new objects have been added to and expanded our inventory, while at the same time sharpening our view of what already exists. They do not simply fit in, but always open up new perspectives on existing pieces and collections. They fill gaps, deepen existing themes, and reveal aspects that had previously received little attention. 
Thus, the additions of 2025 not only mark an expansion of the collection, but also an impetus to reexamine our own history—and to be open to new perspectives on what is preserved.
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Leaded Glass Window Michiel Zuidervaart, Longerje nei it Hjoed yn Snits, 2008 Markus Lüppertz, Narziß und Echo, texts by Lüppertz, Editeur Dr. Kleinheinrich, Münster 2007, special edition with 4 colored lithographs in a portfolio and 3 in the book, in a slipcase, signed Lilla Tabasso, Garden of Crispijn de Passe, 2025 Map showing Langenbrück manor (detail) Envelope addressed to Joseph Gerhard Brenninkmeijer (1851–1935), eldest son of August Brenninkmeijer (1819–1892) Invoice for coffee, cakes, pastries, cookies, and more for the wedding reception of Joseph Gerhard Brenninkmeijer (1851–1935) and Angela Johanna Lampe (1857–1921), January 8, 1880 Blessing from the Vatican for the wedding of Arnold and Catharina Brenninkmeijer, 1929 The C&A department store in Breslau, which opened in September 1931 Postcard informing of the change of address of the Niels Stensen Foundation Architectural plans of C&A department stores in Great Britain Architectural plan of the store on Princes Street in Edinburgh, which opened in 1936 (detail) Porticus Annual Report 2021 Alumni report on the 60-year history of the fellowship
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Preview 2026
COLLECTING
OURSELVES
The 2026 exhibition year will be held under the theme “Collecting Ourselves.” For a museum, collecting is a key task alongside conservation, research, and education. But collecting is also a deeply human and therefore both individual and collective activity. Unconsciously, it allows us to interconnect the past, present, and future by preserving memories, sharing experiences, and thus leaving traces behind.

In 2026, we therefore wish to use the impetus of our annual theme to follow the idea of collecting or organizing in our exhibitions and events, making connections visible.
Download the 2026 Annual Program
Draiflessen Collection
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