Press releases

Dates: September 12, 2026 – April 4, 2027

Opening: Friday, September 11, 7:00 p.m.

More Than Just Cloth and Needles
: Aachen’s status as an economic hub in the 19th and 20th centuries was shaped by more than just cloth and needle production. The industries along Jülicher Straße, in particular, played a significant role in Aachen’s development into an international economic and technological center. The exhibition “2.5 km of Industrial History: Jülicher Straße” at the “Centre Charlemagne – Neues Stadtmuseum Aachen” sheds light on this previously neglected chapter of the city’s history. From September 12, 2026, through April 4, 2027, it invites visitors to rediscover the past, present, and future of one of Aachen’s most important transportation and economic corridors.

The large factory buildings, administrative buildings, and company housing complexes in northern Aachen remain visible reminders of the past to this day. Heinrich Brötz, head of the Department of Culture, emphasizes: “There is no street in Aachen where industrial history, modern production facilities, digital innovation, excellent culture, and living spaces for so many people are so closely intertwined. This creates an exciting dynamic that our city museum highlights.”

Prof. Dr. Frank Pohle, director of Route Charlemagne, emphasizes the immense significance of this topic for the development of the imperial city: “Industrialization changed the way Aachen was perceived as a spa and bathing town. While Aachen’s cloth and needle production is well known to most people, the companies on Jülicher Straße are often overlooked. Yet this is where the city’s most important industrial area developed.”

There were good reasons for this, as Andreas Düspohl, one of the curators, explains: “The Wurm River, which runs largely parallel to Jülicher Straße, supplied the factories with water as a source of power and a factor of production.” Large tracts of available land also made it possible to establish sprawling factory complexes, while prevailing westerly winds kept smoke and odors away from the city center. The railroad connection, established in 1875, further improved the location’s conditions.

Made in Aachen
Lars Neugebauer, curator and initiator of the exhibition, adds: “Especially starting in the second half of the 19th century, numerous companies sprang up along Jülicher Straße, playing a decisive role in shaping Aachen’s reputation as an industrial city. Among the most notable names were Garbe, Lahmeyer & Co., Talbot, Krantz, Zentis, and the Brauer Umbrella Factory. Their products were known far beyond the region and were, in some cases, exported all over the world.”

Jülicher Straße has undergone significant changes in recent decades. While some internationally prominent companies remain based there, many formerly large firms have not survived the economic upheavals or have had to undergo a fundamental realignment. At the same time, this structural change is opening up new opportunities for alternative uses and forward-looking developments.

About 200 exhibits
. The exhibition is divided into four main sections, as co-curator Alexander Braun explains: “The exhibition begins with the origins of the site and takes visitors on a symbolic stroll through the history of selected companies. Other focal points are dedicated to people’s living and working conditions, as well as a look into the future. To this end, we are presenting around 200 exhibits, including original machines, historical advertising brochures, posters, product samples, and unique photographs.”

A wide-ranging program of events complements the exhibition. Guided tours of the exhibition and along Jülicher Straße are planned for Open Monument Day on Sunday, September 13. In addition, the Aachen Adult Education Center is offering related events, leading up to another day of activities on Sunday, March 7, 2027. A detailed catalog rounds out the offerings.

Curators: Lars Neugebauer, Andreas Düspohl

Download images:
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Password: presseac

Guided tours of the exhibition

Public guided tours
every Sunday at 3 p.m.
Meeting point: museum ticket office / museum admission plus 3.00 euros

Curator-Led Tours

on Sun, Sept. 13, 2026 / Sun, Mar. 7, 2027

Meeting place: Museum ticket office / Museum admission plus 3.00 euros

Private tours
can be booked through the Aachen
Museum Service. Hours: Tue–Fri, 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Tel.: +49 241 432-4998
museumsdienst@mail.aachen.de

For more information on events, the supporting program, and activities for families, children, and seniors, please visit our websites:

www.centre-charlemagne.eu

www.museumsdienst-aachen.de