Martin Ettlinger Takes Over as Director of the Swiss Museum of Transport
25.02.2026 | from Swiss Museum of Transport (VHS)
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Image rights: Verkehrshaus der Schweiz
25.02.2026, Last night, the Swiss Museum of Transport celebrated the change of directors. From 1st March 2026, Lucerne’s Martin Ettlinger will take over the leadership of Switzerland's most visited museum. The current executive board member and head of market and development knows the institution well and stands for continuity and further development.
Last night, the Swiss Museum of Transport celebrated the change of directors. From 1st March 2026, Lucerne’s Martin Ettlinger will take over the leadership of Switzerland's most visited museum. The current executive board member and head of market and development knows the institution well and stands for continuity and further development.
The official celebration for the director change took place last evening at the Swiss Museum of Transport. Last year, the board had already elected Martin Ettlinger, the 50-year-old from Lucerne, as the new director through a publicly advertised process. From 1st March 2026, he will lead Switzerland’s most visited museum and be responsible for its strategic and operational development.
Martin Ettlinger has been a member of the executive board since 2021, most recently leading the market and development sector. With his appointment, the museum opts for a leadership figure from within its ranks who knows the museum, its partners, and the environment well, and who has contributed to shaping the corporate strategy.
Experience at the intersection of media, culture, and administration
The legal expert has experience at the junction of media, culture, administration, and business. His previous roles led him, among other places, to the Swiss Federal Customs Administration, where he worked as a section chief for national and international affairs and built a broad network within federal administration. Prior to this, he represented the interests of the Canton of Lucerne in Bern. His professional career began in the media sector with Swiss Radio and Television as well as the Swiss Media Association, where he served as legal consultant and member of the executive board.
Vision for the Future of the Museum of Transport
Martin Ettlinger articulates his focus clearly: “The great sailing ship of the Museum of Transport is guided by its three content masts: past, present, and future.” We are the most relevant platform for mobility themes in Switzerland and as one of the world’s leading institutions, we consistently advance our approach to playful learning. Our ambition: We want to inspire everyone with technology and mobility.
Recognition of Martin Bütikofer's Achievements
Martin Ettlinger is taking over from Martin Bütikofer, who shaped the Museum of Transport for 16 years and will retire at the end of February 2026. During this time, the museum consistently evolved and strengthened its position as an important place of experience, education, and encounter. New offerings like the Swiss Chocolate Adventure, the Media World, or the “House of Energy” expanded the museum’s profile and set significant thematic accents. With over a million visits last year, this successful development is also reflected in visitor numbers.
Contact
Swiss Museum of Transport
Beatrice Rüttimann
Head of Corporate Communications
Tel: 041 375 74 72
Tel: 079 622 00 37
beatrice.ruettimann@verkehrshaus.ch
www.verkehrshaus.ch
Editor's note: Image rights belong to the respective publisher. Image rights: Verkehrshaus der Schweiz
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Swiss Museum of Transport (VHS)
The Swiss Museum of Transport vividly, interestingly, and diversely illustrates the development of transport and mobility – yesterday, today, and tomorrow – on roads, rails, and water, as well as in the air and outer space, along with the functioning of communication. These form the core themes of the Museum of Transport. Over 3,000 objects across approximately 20,000 square metres of exhibition space witness a history quite literally in motion.
Unique attractions in Switzerland, such as the film theatre, the digitally operated large planetarium, the Swissarena, the world’s first walk-in aerial photograph of a country, and the Gotthard tunnel exhibition, along with the Hans Erni Art Museum and many other offerings enrich the museum visit and make it an experience.
The Swiss Museum of Transport is a place of discovery full of pleasure and adventure – amidst authentic witnesses of transport history! Opened on 1st July 1959 and currently welcoming around 930,000 visitors a year, the Museum of Transport proudly claims to be Switzerland’s most visited museum. Swiss Museum of Transport, Lucerne – open 365 days a year!
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Source: Swiss Museum of Transport (VHS), Press release
Original article published on: Martin Ettlinger übernimmt die Direktion des Verkehrshauses der Schweiz