Collection
From a natural history collection to an open knowledge infrastructure for nature
Overview
The research collection is the central research infrastructure of the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin. With more than 30 million objects, it is the largest natural history collection in Germany. Its holdings document 4.5 billion years of Earth and life history – from the origins of the Solar System to the present day. Numerous type specimens serve as reference material for the first description of species.
Since the early eighteenth century, the collection has grown continuously through the contributions of individuals, networks, expeditions, and research journeys. Together with the museum's Library and Archive collection areas, it brings together natural history objects, historical sources and scientific documentation to form an integrated knowledge base for research.
As part of our Museum Evolution, we are transforming this knowledge base into an Open Knowledge Infrastructure for Nature. We systematically develop and curate the collection, assigning persistent, unique identifiers to its holdings. A continuously expanding digital catalogue makes the collection discoverable and citable worldwide. At the same time, it links objects, media, and metadata within the collection and connects them with data from other research institutions and scientific disciplines.
This creates new opportunities for data-driven research on biodiversity, evolution, Earth systems, the history of science and collections and provenance, extending well beyond the traditional boundaries of the natural sciences.
Access
The research collection is open to researchers and partners in accordance with our terms of use. In the individual collection areas, workstations allow for direct work on artefacts and historical sources. Please contact the relevant contact persons for this purpose.
Enquiries regarding specific objects and holdings should be directed to the relevant sub-collections. Collection staff will first check whether the requested objects are available and accessible.
Collection in motion
As part of our Museum Evolution, we are relocating holdings – including to Berlin-Adlershof, where a collection and research centre is being established as the museum’s second site.
We are combining these relocations with the systematic collection development: we examine each object from a conservation perspective and record it digitally. This creates interconnected collection data that is secured for the long term. In the future, a public data portal will make approved information searchable regardless of location.
Against this backdrop, access to individual sub-collections is temporarily restricted.
Currently inaccessible or with limited access
Archive
Image and object collections, bundles, bequests, administrative records (until Q4 2027)
Library
Holdings from the Ornithology, Coleoptera and Ichtyology sub-libraries, as well as portions from the Mineralogical and Paleontological libraries
Hemimetabola
Not accessible
Mammalia
Not accessible from 21 September to 30 October 2026, limited collection service until the end of the year
Mineralogy
Minerals, Petrographic and Ore Deposits Collection (until July 2029)
