Feiernde Menschen vor dem fiktiven Johann Strauss Denkmal in Wien
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Colonialism on the Window Sill

The picture shows a historical photograph of a plant in a desert region on the one hand and a display object of this plant from the Natural History Museum on the other
© KHM-Museumsverband, Weltmuseum Wien (links) / © Naturhistorisches Museum Wien (rechts)
The picture shows a historical photograph of a plant in a desert region on the one hand and a display object of this plant from the Natural History Museum on the other

28 May 2025 - 25 May 2026

This exhibition shines a spotlight on ten plants that have been favourites of European living rooms and balconies for centuries, though their natural habitats are outside the continent. These plants share a history with our ethnographic collections; some of them joined the objects on long naval voyages to reach Europe and the museums.
Beyond the demand for medicinal plants and crops (nowadays ‘cash crops’ that are cultivated on a grand scale for export), the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries saw a new hunger, even a quest for foreign flora amid deliberations about the potential benefits of plant imports to Europe.

Among the plants presented in the exhibition is the Norfolk Pine (Araucaria), which had been discovered on Norfolk Island during James Cook’s second voyage in 1774. The history of the African violet is intertwined with a German colonial expedition in 1886, an object from which is now in the Weltmuseum Wien collection. Geraniums (Pelargonia), a popular choice for our flower boxes, hail from South Africa, where they are used for medicinal purposes. This example illustrates the exploitation of the countries of origin, which do not profit from the commercialization of their domestic flora. International agreements such as the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) are meant to establish safeguards and rules for including nations of origin in Western profits and to broach the issue of biopiracy, also in light of climate change.

Venue

Weltmuseum Wien (World Museum Vienna)

Hofburg, Heldenplatz
1010 Wien

Tickets & Info

Current Dates

  • Thu. 31 Jul 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Fri. 01 Aug 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sat. 02 Aug 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sun. 03 Aug 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Tue. 05 Aug 2025, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
  • Wed. 06 Aug 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Thu. 07 Aug 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Fri. 08 Aug 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sat. 09 Aug 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sun. 10 Aug 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
All dates

All Dates

July

  • Thu. 31 Jul 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

August

  • Fri. 01 Aug 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sat. 02 Aug 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sun. 03 Aug 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Tue. 05 Aug 2025, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
  • Wed. 06 Aug 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Thu. 07 Aug 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Fri. 08 Aug 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sat. 09 Aug 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sun. 10 Aug 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Tue. 12 Aug 2025, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
  • Wed. 13 Aug 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Thu. 14 Aug 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Fri. 15 Aug 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sat. 16 Aug 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sun. 17 Aug 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Tue. 19 Aug 2025, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
  • Wed. 20 Aug 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Thu. 21 Aug 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Fri. 22 Aug 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sat. 23 Aug 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sun. 24 Aug 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Tue. 26 Aug 2025, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
  • Wed. 27 Aug 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Thu. 28 Aug 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Fri. 29 Aug 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sat. 30 Aug 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sun. 31 Aug 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

September

  • Tue. 02 Sep 2025, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
  • Wed. 03 Sep 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Thu. 04 Sep 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Fri. 05 Sep 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sat. 06 Sep 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sun. 07 Sep 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Tue. 09 Sep 2025, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
  • Wed. 10 Sep 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Thu. 11 Sep 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Fri. 12 Sep 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sat. 13 Sep 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sun. 14 Sep 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Tue. 16 Sep 2025, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
  • Wed. 17 Sep 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Thu. 18 Sep 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Fri. 19 Sep 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sat. 20 Sep 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sun. 21 Sep 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Tue. 23 Sep 2025, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
  • Wed. 24 Sep 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Thu. 25 Sep 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Fri. 26 Sep 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sat. 27 Sep 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sun. 28 Sep 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Tue. 30 Sep 2025, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.

October

  • Wed. 01 Oct 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Thu. 02 Oct 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Fri. 03 Oct 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sat. 04 Oct 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sun. 05 Oct 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Tue. 07 Oct 2025, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
  • Wed. 08 Oct 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Thu. 09 Oct 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Fri. 10 Oct 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sat. 11 Oct 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sun. 12 Oct 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Tue. 14 Oct 2025, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
  • Wed. 15 Oct 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Thu. 16 Oct 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Fri. 17 Oct 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sat. 18 Oct 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sun. 19 Oct 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Tue. 21 Oct 2025, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
  • Wed. 22 Oct 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Thu. 23 Oct 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Fri. 24 Oct 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sat. 25 Oct 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sun. 26 Oct 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Tue. 28 Oct 2025, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
  • Wed. 29 Oct 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Thu. 30 Oct 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Fri. 31 Oct 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

November

  • Sat. 01 Nov 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sun. 02 Nov 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Tue. 04 Nov 2025, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
  • Wed. 05 Nov 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Thu. 06 Nov 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Fri. 07 Nov 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sat. 08 Nov 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sun. 09 Nov 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Tue. 11 Nov 2025, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
  • Wed. 12 Nov 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Thu. 13 Nov 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Fri. 14 Nov 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sat. 15 Nov 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sun. 16 Nov 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Tue. 18 Nov 2025, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
  • Wed. 19 Nov 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Thu. 20 Nov 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Fri. 21 Nov 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sat. 22 Nov 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sun. 23 Nov 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Tue. 25 Nov 2025, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
  • Wed. 26 Nov 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Thu. 27 Nov 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Fri. 28 Nov 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sat. 29 Nov 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sun. 30 Nov 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

December

  • Tue. 02 Dec 2025, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
  • Wed. 03 Dec 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Thu. 04 Dec 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Fri. 05 Dec 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sat. 06 Dec 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sun. 07 Dec 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Tue. 09 Dec 2025, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
  • Wed. 10 Dec 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Thu. 11 Dec 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Fri. 12 Dec 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sat. 13 Dec 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sun. 14 Dec 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Tue. 16 Dec 2025, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
  • Wed. 17 Dec 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Thu. 18 Dec 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Fri. 19 Dec 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sat. 20 Dec 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sun. 21 Dec 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Tue. 23 Dec 2025, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
  • Wed. 24 Dec 2025, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
  • Thu. 25 Dec 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Fri. 26 Dec 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sat. 27 Dec 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sun. 28 Dec 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Tue. 30 Dec 2025, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
  • Wed. 31 Dec 2025, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

January 2026

  • Thu. 01 Jan 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Fri. 02 Jan 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sat. 03 Jan 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sun. 04 Jan 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Tue. 06 Jan 2026, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
  • Wed. 07 Jan 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Thu. 08 Jan 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Fri. 09 Jan 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sat. 10 Jan 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sun. 11 Jan 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Tue. 13 Jan 2026, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
  • Wed. 14 Jan 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Thu. 15 Jan 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Fri. 16 Jan 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sat. 17 Jan 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sun. 18 Jan 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Tue. 20 Jan 2026, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
  • Wed. 21 Jan 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Thu. 22 Jan 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Fri. 23 Jan 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sat. 24 Jan 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sun. 25 Jan 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Tue. 27 Jan 2026, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
  • Wed. 28 Jan 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Thu. 29 Jan 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Fri. 30 Jan 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sat. 31 Jan 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

February 2026

  • Sun. 01 Feb 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Tue. 03 Feb 2026, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
  • Wed. 04 Feb 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Thu. 05 Feb 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Fri. 06 Feb 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sat. 07 Feb 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sun. 08 Feb 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Tue. 10 Feb 2026, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
  • Wed. 11 Feb 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Thu. 12 Feb 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Fri. 13 Feb 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sat. 14 Feb 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sun. 15 Feb 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Tue. 17 Feb 2026, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
  • Wed. 18 Feb 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Thu. 19 Feb 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Fri. 20 Feb 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sat. 21 Feb 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sun. 22 Feb 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Tue. 24 Feb 2026, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
  • Wed. 25 Feb 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Thu. 26 Feb 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Fri. 27 Feb 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sat. 28 Feb 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

March 2026

  • Sun. 01 Mar 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Tue. 03 Mar 2026, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
  • Wed. 04 Mar 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Thu. 05 Mar 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Fri. 06 Mar 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sat. 07 Mar 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sun. 08 Mar 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Tue. 10 Mar 2026, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
  • Wed. 11 Mar 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Thu. 12 Mar 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Fri. 13 Mar 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sat. 14 Mar 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sun. 15 Mar 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Tue. 17 Mar 2026, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
  • Wed. 18 Mar 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Thu. 19 Mar 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Fri. 20 Mar 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sat. 21 Mar 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sun. 22 Mar 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Tue. 24 Mar 2026, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
  • Wed. 25 Mar 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Thu. 26 Mar 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Fri. 27 Mar 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sat. 28 Mar 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sun. 29 Mar 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Tue. 31 Mar 2026, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.

April 2026

  • Wed. 01 Apr 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Thu. 02 Apr 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Fri. 03 Apr 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sat. 04 Apr 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sun. 05 Apr 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Tue. 07 Apr 2026, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
  • Wed. 08 Apr 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Thu. 09 Apr 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Fri. 10 Apr 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sat. 11 Apr 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sun. 12 Apr 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Tue. 14 Apr 2026, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
  • Wed. 15 Apr 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Thu. 16 Apr 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Fri. 17 Apr 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sat. 18 Apr 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sun. 19 Apr 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Tue. 21 Apr 2026, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
  • Wed. 22 Apr 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Thu. 23 Apr 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Fri. 24 Apr 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sat. 25 Apr 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sun. 26 Apr 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Tue. 28 Apr 2026, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
  • Wed. 29 Apr 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Thu. 30 Apr 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

May 2026

  • Fri. 01 May 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sat. 02 May 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sun. 03 May 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Tue. 05 May 2026, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
  • Wed. 06 May 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Thu. 07 May 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Fri. 08 May 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sat. 09 May 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sun. 10 May 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Tue. 12 May 2026, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
  • Wed. 13 May 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Thu. 14 May 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Fri. 15 May 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sat. 16 May 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sun. 17 May 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Tue. 19 May 2026, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
  • Wed. 20 May 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Thu. 21 May 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Fri. 22 May 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sat. 23 May 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sun. 24 May 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Fewer dates
Zug der ÖBB (Österreichischen Bundesbahnen) mit Text "Entspannt anreisen mit den Zügen der ÖBB" und ÖBB-Logo