The Schengen Agreement takes its name from the small village where it was signed in 1985 - in the tri-border area where Luxembourg, France and Germany meet. History is brought to life here at the redesigned Schengen Museum, on board the original boat where borderless travel was born.

It’s 9 o’clock in the morning on a day in late June. The sun is shining down from the east and spotlighting the columns covered in symbols of the European Member States – the Nation Pillars. On the steps of the Centre Européen Schengen, Director Martina Kneip is ready to greet her first visitor of the day, Christoph Schröder. As Head of the European Parliament Liaison Office in Luxembourg, he often works with Martina on their shared mission… to embody and promote the spirit of Europe.

Interactive and engaging

“The new museum is absolutely fantastic!” Christoph exclaims upon his arrival, “What an amazing transformation, history is well and truly brought to life here.” The huge exhibition space certainly has a wow factor when you first step inside. The national flags are all lit up in the middle of the room as a plastic sculpture around which the exhibition pivots.

In the entrance area visitors are given a card to match their nationality and language that they can use to check in at different stations throughout the museum. This allows them to access content in their own language, as well as to check the live digital display which shows how many visitors have already come to the museum from each country.

At the interactive stations, people tell their stories about life in the Schengen Area right at the heart of Europe. Martina and Christoph can add to those stories too. Originally from the Saarland in Germany, Christoph spent a year living in the USA before settling in Luxembourg in 2004. He has worked for the European Parliament since 2012. “The idea of the Greater Region has always been important to me; before I started working at the European Parliament, one of my jobs was at the Saarland Ministry of Economics. We engaged with lots of cross-border projects to make an impact for people living in the region, including in tourism.” Originally from the Black Forest, Martina Kneip has been directing the Centre Européen Schengen since 2007. Both have raised children in Luxembourg, laying down roots in the area.

All on board?

Walking a few steps along the Moselle, you can hop on board the Prinzessin Marie-Astrid Europa passenger ship, where the Schengen Agreement was signed in 1985. From 1992, the boat was used for excursions in Germany.  “The commune of Schengen didn’t manage to buy the boat back until the agreement’s 40th anniversary – with support from the Luxembourg government. Then it was fully refurbished, fitted with an electric motor and prepared for the exhibition,” Martina explains. On board, you can watch video footage of the signing as well as seeing can see a copy of the document itself. The original is stored safely in the National Archives – an enduring piece of history that changed the face of Europe forever.