Special exhibition "A suitcase full of homesickness - everyday life in the children's cure" (in the Westphalian Salt Worlds)

From July 19 to November 22, 2026 "A suitcase full of homesickness - everyday life at the children's spa" - New special exhibition at the Westphalian Salt Mine: During a Bad Sassendorf tour, our guests have already been able to accompany the fictional eight-year-old spa child Petra on a digital tour through her everyday life since 2021.

2026 will now be followed by a themed exhibition that continues the cooperation between the Westphalian Salt Worlds and the historical seminar at the University of Münster. The exhibition shows how the spa town became an early center for children's recreation homes due to its proximity to the Ruhr area - a place that was supposed to offer working-class children fresh air, a fortifying diet and a break from the hard life in the industrial centers.

Everyday objects, documents and personal stories show how a children's spa stay fluctuated between recreation, good and bad experiences. Above all, strict rules, homesickness and educational pressure to conform shaped the everyday lives of many young spa children. This creates a multi-layered picture of a historical practice that was both caring and a burden.

The exhibition is complemented by works by photographer Max Brugger. In his work, Brugger explores the individual stories of those affected. His portraits link the past with the present. Emotional and individual.

For more information, including the supporting program, visit www.salzwelten.de