Covering an area of in total 7,405 square metres (79,710 sq ft), is the largest museum in the world specifically dedicated to this subject.

The opening of the museum was delayed several times because archaeological excavations on the site proved more time-consuming than initially imagined.

The original historical items displayed include documents, paintings and gold and silver coins from the so-called Lübeck Hoard.

Its compact wall can thus be interpreted as a reference to the old medieval city wall, part of which once was located on the site of the museum; similarly, the roof of the building can be seen as a referral to the crow-stepped gables of the old city of Lübeck, and its decoration as a contemporary interpretation of the Gothic taste for intricate quatrefoil.

Inside, the layout of the museum mixes open and closed spaces and it contains, apart from the exhibition areas, also a playground and a restaurant.