The Afghan Museum (German: Afghanisches Museum) is private museum of culture and cultural history of Afghanistan, situated in the historic and picturesque Speicherstadt (warehouse district) of Hamburg, Germany. The museum's mandate is to bring the authentic and traditional aspects of Afghan culture to life.

 

History

This private museum was opened in March 1998 by lawyer and businessman Nek Mohamad Pirzad, his family and friends.

Interior and contents

The artistic design for the museum was led by Mr. Hessan, an Afghan artist living in Germany. The museum houses displays how a cobbler repairs worn out shoes, tandoori bread is baked, a carpet-maker ties knots for a large Afghan carpet with the famous Elephantfoot pattern. Exhibitions display a look inside a tea house and a Turkmen tent called yurt, or under an Afghan veil (chadri). Reproductions of the great fortress of Bost, Qala-e-Bost, in Lashkar Gah, the big Buddhas of Bamyan, and the minaret of Jam are represented.

The store offers green tea flavoured with cardamom, roasted chick peas, raisins, mulberries, Afghan jewellery and clothes are sold.

Visitors

The museum takes part in the Long Night of Museums of Hamburg.

53°32′36″N 9°59′22″E