Cities
Germany Cologne Rhine-Westphalia Museum

EL-DE Haus

About

Originally built in the 1930s as the headquarters of the Gestapo, the building’s basement prison cells remain intact, bearing haunting inscriptions left by detainees. Today, it houses the NS Documentation Center, offering exhibitions on Cologne’s experience under National Socialism, the persecution of Jews, political prisoners, and other marginalized groups. The museum presents personal stories, photographs, and official records that illuminate both everyday life and resistance during the Third Reich. Its permanent exhibition “Cologne in the Nazi Era” is complemented by temporary shows exploring broader themes of remembrance and human rights. Located at Appellhofplatz, EL-DE Haus is not only a place of historical education but also a site of reflection, urging visitors to confront the past and its lessons for the present. It stands as one of Germany’s most important institutions for civic memory and democratic awareness.

Cologne Germany
EL-DE Haus
Location

The EL-DE Haus, located at Appellhofplatz 23-25 in Cologne’s city center, is the former Gestapo headquarters and now houses the NS Documentation Center, a museum and memorial dedicated to the history of the Nazi era in Cologne. The building stands at the corner of Appellhofplatz and Elisenstraße, easily accessible from the Cologne Cathedral area, about a ten-minute walk away. Nearby public transport includes the Appellhofplatz Stadtbahn station, served by multiple tram lines including 3, 4, 5, 16, and 18. The area surrounding EL-DE Haus features Cologne’s old town charm with historic architecture, shops, cafés, and close proximity to major cultural landmarks such as the Cologne Cathedral and the Rheinpark, offering a solemn but essential historical experience in the heart of the city.​

Museum Ludwig Museum Ludwig Museum Roman-Germanic Museum Roman-Germanic Museum Museum Wallraf-Richartz Museum & Fondation Corboud Wallraf-Richartz Museum & Fondation Corboud Museum Schnütgen Museum Schnütgen Museum Museum Museum für Angewandte Kunst Museum für Angewandte Kunst Museum Museum für Ostasiatische Kunst Museum für Ostasiatische Kunst Museum Domschatzkammer Domschatzkammer Museum Cologne City Museum Cologne City Museum Museum Fragrance Museum Fragrance Museum Museum German Sports and Olympic Museum German Sports and Olympic Museum Museum Odysseum Odysseum Museum Cologne Carnival Museum Cologne Carnival Museum Museum Cologne Chocolate Museum Cologne Chocolate Museum Museum Puppenmuseum Puppenmuseum Museum Radio Museum Köln e.v. Radio Museum Köln e.v. Museum Kolumba Kolumba Museum Medizinhistorisches Museum Köln Medizinhistorisches Museum Köln Museum Jüdisches Museum im Archäologischen Quartier Köln Jüdisches Museum im Archäologischen Quartier Köln Museum Rhenish Industrial Railway Museum Rhenish Industrial Railway Museum Museum Rail museum Thielenbruch Rail museum Thielenbruch Museum Biermuseum Biermuseum Pub Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum Museum Käthe Kollwitz Museum Käthe Kollwitz Museum Museum National Socialism Documentation Center of the City of Cologne National Socialism Documentation Center of the City of Cologne Museum SK Stiftung Kultur SK Stiftung Kultur Gallery Sammlung Zander Sammlung Zander Museum Dom Treasury Dom Treasury Museum Das Museum des Schmerzes und der Liebe Das Museum des Schmerzes und der Liebe Museum Römisch-Germanisches Museum im Belgischen Haus Römisch-Germanisches Museum im Belgischen Haus Museum Schauspiel Köln Schauspiel Köln Theatre Theater im Bauturm Theater im Bauturm Theatre Senftöpfchen-Theater Senftöpfchen-Theater Theatre Horizont Theater Horizont Theater Theatre Hänneschen-Theater Hänneschen-Theater Theatre Gloria-Theater Gloria-Theater Theatre Scala Theater Köln Scala Theater Köln Theatre Theater Tiefrot Theater Tiefrot Theatre Urania Theater Urania Theater Theatre Theater in der Filmdos Theater in der Filmdos Theatre Gallery Ehren Art Gallery Ehren Art Gallery 30works Galerie 30works Galerie Gallery Galerie Mensing Cologne Galerie Mensing Cologne Gallery Galerie Zander Susanne Galerie Zander Susanne Gallery Galerie Timeless Art Galerie Timeless Art Gallery Philipp Von Rosen Galerie Philipp Von Rosen Galerie Gallery Van der Grinten Galerie Van der Grinten Galerie Gallery Galerie Biesenbach Galerie Biesenbach Gallery Cologne Cathedral Cologne Cathedral Cathedral Kranhäuser im Rheinauhafen Kranhäuser im Rheinauhafen Tourist attractions Flora und Botanischer Garten Köln Flora und Botanischer Garten Köln Botanical Garden Fort X Fort X Fortress Volksgarten Köln Volksgarten Köln Park Rheinpark Rheinpark Park Forstbotanischer Garten und Friedenswald Forstbotanischer Garten und Friedenswald Botanical Garden Malakoffturm Malakoffturm Historical Landmark Römerbrunnen Römerbrunnen Tourist attractions Exhibition Tower Exhibition Tower Tourist attractions Cologne Zoo Cologne Zoo Zoo Hahnentor Hahnentor Historical Landmark Edith Stein Denkmal Edith Stein Denkmal Monument Petrusbrunnen Petrusbrunnen Historical Landmark Hiroshima-Nagasaki-Park Hiroshima-Nagasaki-Park Park Equestrian monument to King Frederick William III of Prussia Equestrian monument to King Frederick William III of Prussia Tourist attractions Friedenspark Cologne Friedenspark Cologne Park Willi-Ostermann-Brunnen Willi-Ostermann-Brunnen Tourist attractions Time Ride Time Ride Tourist attractions Equestrian Statue of Kaiser Wilhelm II Equestrian Statue of Kaiser Wilhelm II Statue Heinzelmännchenbrunnen Heinzelmännchenbrunnen Cultural landmark Old Market Cologne Old Market Cologne Square Römerturm Römerturm Historical Landmark Romans' Northern Gate Romans' Northern Gate Historical Landmark Rheinboulevard Rheinboulevard Observation deck Ulrepforte Ulrepforte Historical Landmark Cologne View Cologne View Tourist attractions Great St. Martin Church Great St. Martin Church Church Pegel Köln Pegel Köln Tourist attractions Bastei Köln Bastei Köln Tourist attractions Kaskaden Kaskaden Tourist attractions Basilica of St. Gereon Basilica of St. Gereon Church Hohenzollern Bridge Hohenzollern Bridge Bridge Stadtwald Stadtwald Park Schloss Arff Schloss Arff Castle Trödel- und Antikmarkt an der Rheinpromenade Trödel- und Antikmarkt an der Rheinpromenade Market Flohmarkt an der Galopprennbahn Flohmarkt an der Galopprennbahn Market Flohmarkt & Antikmarkt Kölner Altstadt Flohmarkt & Antikmarkt Kölner Altstadt Market Flohmarkt RheinEnergieStadion Flohmarkt RheinEnergieStadion Market Flohmarkt an der Südbrücke Flohmarkt an der Südbrücke Market St. Maria im Kapitol St. Maria im Kapitol Church Roonstraße Synagogue Roonstraße Synagogue Synagogue Basilica of St. Kunibert Basilica of St. Kunibert Church Schmitz Column Schmitz Column Historical Landmark Jan von Werth Monument Jan von Werth Monument Monument Forstbotanischer Garten Köln Forstbotanischer Garten Köln Park Beethovenpark Beethovenpark Park