tax house

The Akzisehaus is a building in the Lower Saxony city of Osnabrück, located in close proximity to the Heger Gate and the museum complex consisting of the Felix Nussbaum House and the Cultural History Museum.
The Akzisehaus, built around 1817 in the neoclassical style, is the last surviving customs house in Osnabrück. It was erected when the narrow gates between the ramparts and walls were demolished. Until the middle of the 19th century, the so-called excise tax, a tax on consumer goods such as wine, beer, flour, or grain, was collected here. This excise tax was at that time one of the most important sources of income for the city, alongside the revenues from coal mining in Piesberg. At times, a guard was also stationed here. Since 1894, the post office had set up a branch, which existed until 1972. Thus, this building is still often referred to as the small post office today. Subsequently, art was presented here until a few years ago. The focus was on 20th-century art and the series Osnabrück Art and Artists.

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