IBD+ 2025 - International Mensa Gathering

IBD 2025 Logo

The IBD+ 2025* will take place in Germany in Düsseldorf from October 23rd to 26th, 2025.

We were asked to detail a bit more what we really plan – please take a look at The “+” in IBD+ explained.

This event is for Mensans from all over the world, their beloved ones and those interested in Mensa (even not Mensa members).

Four days of Mensa party – 150 different events in the making with nearly 10.000 slots – sleeping is optional :‐)

The booking the international Mensa gathering IBD+ is closed - but we will have some tickets on sale during the event in the orga office.

Important pages and Contact
Quick Info (things you want to know)                      Upon arrival & during IBD+                      ibd2025@mensa.de
You will need to have an account on our booking system, so please do register if not done yet.

From October 17th to 26th an European Mensa Juniors Camp (EMJC) is planned in Duisburg which is about 30 km away from Düsseldorf.

Some further links that might be of interest:


Here are events we prepared for you. This list is extensive but might change a bit since there are still a few events in the making (we're wainting for the final "ok" before we may present them on here). So expect the event lists below to grow in the next weeks.

By clicking on the small triangles at the left you can unfold the list of events by location, category, or date.... or click on "Expand" in a title to expand all for that part; "Collapse" reverses that obviously.

Events by Category

Basics    Dine Around - Bob & Mary
   Dine Around - Brauhaus am Dreieck  
   Dine Around - Himmel & Ähd  
   Dine Around - Zum Schlüssel  
   Dine Around for Early Birds - Rheinische Stuv  
   Gala Dinner  
   Helsinki Party  
   Icebreaker  
   MY-Dinner  

City Tours    City by the River Rhine  
   City Tour by Former Homeless People (German Language only)  
   City Tour Düsseldorf in Private Bus   ()
   Guided Tour Cologne: The most impressive City on the River Rhine  
   Guided Tour of Cologne`s Underground
   Icons of Architecture in Düsseldorf  
   Media Harbor & Rhinetower: Architecture and Panoramic Views  
   Nightwatchman Tour   ()
   Old Town (Altstadt) Tour  
   The Japanese Quarter along Immermannstraße - Düsseldorf`s Little Tokyo
   Urban Art Walk  

Company Tours    Company Tour in Bakery “Bäckerei Hinkel“  
   Company Tour Kiepe Electric GmbH (transmission of personal data required)
   Company Tour Teekanne (German; transmission of personal data required)
   Factory Tour - Production Facility “Killepitsch“ Herbal Liquer from Düsseldorf
   Farina Duftmuseum - Fragrance Museum Farina
   Germanys Industrial Powerhouse CHEMPARK (transmission of personal data required)   ()
   Guided Tour at DLR (transmission of personal data required)
   Guided Tour Craft Brewery - Hausbrauerei “Uerige“ in the Old Town (Altstadt)
   Guided Tour DB Regio AG Düsseldorf (workshop for local train maintenance)
   Max Planck Institute for Sustainable Materials   ()
   Power Plant Tour Düsseldorf-Lausward (transmission of personal data required)
   Sewage Canal Tour
   Step Inside Connectivity: A Tour of the Vodafone Campus in Düsseldorf
   THW (Federal Agency for Technical Relief)   ()
   Visit Editorial Office of Handelsblatt (transmission of personal data required)   ()
   Waste Incineration Plant Tour (transmission of personal data required)
   WDR Cologne Radio/TV Studios (transmission of personal data required)
   WDR Düsseldorf (transmission of personal data required)  

Delicious Things    Craftbeer & Streetfood
   Düsseldorf Food Tour
   MY-Breakfast   ()
   Single Malt Whisky Tasting (Material included)  

Games, Sports and Fun    Axe Throwing (really!)
   Bouldering with training session (Registration necessary)
   Bowling
   Bowling
   Discofox, just Dance!
   Escape Room: Fiction Escape   ()
   Escape Room: Mr. Tesla   ()
   Gellyball (small Paintballs)
   Glowzone Blacklight 4D Minigolf
   Lasertag
   Meet the Alpacas on the Pasture
   MY Lasertag Wuppertal
   Self Trip: Visit Games Convention “SPIEL Essen” (You need to Book your Ticket)  
   Virtual Reality - Fight Zombies in a Free Walk Experience

History, Art and Culture    Guided Tour in the Cologne Cathedral  
   Guided Tour on the roof of the Cologne Cathedral
   K20: Collection of Art - Guided Tour  
   K20: Exhibition “Queer Modernism“  
   K21: Collection of Art - Guided Tour  
   Roncalli`s Apollo Varieté   ()
   Suspension Railway Museum (Schwebodrom) Wuppertal  

Other    BoutIQue-Wertgutschein
   ExComm meeting lunch (Thursday)  
   IBD Delegate Lunch Tickets & Coffee Breaks  
   IBD Delegate Lunch Tickets (IBD delegates only!)  
   IBD meeting lunch (Friday)  
   IBD meeting lunch (Saturday)  
   IBD meeting lunch (Sunday)  
   International Volunteer Network Conference (IVN+)  

Presentations    Communicating Complex Content with AI: An Insight into New Possibilities  
   Crime Scene work throughout the times  
   Highly Sensitive Person - Introduction to a Psychological and Social Phenomenon  
   How to solve the Climate Crisis (if you think like an Engineer)  
   Introduction to Esperanto - The world`s easiest Language  
   Lead me, Follow me, or Get out of my Way (General Patton)  
   Retire Early  
   SIGHT, meeting mensans traveling  

Sightseeing and Excursions    Botanical Garden - Guided Tour “Climate Change“  
   Cologne Central Mosque (one of Europe`s largest mosques)  
   Guided Tour Bonsai Museum Düsseldorf (open air)
   Guided Tour Film Museum Düsseldorf   ()
   Guided Tour of the Düsseldorf City Museum   ()
   Guided Tour Puppet Theatre “Düsseldorfer Marionettentheater“
   Guided Tour Synagogue Düsseldorf (transmission of personal data required)
   Museum of Chocolate - Guided Tour with Tasting  
   Opera House Backstage Tour
   Panorama Cruise

Workshops    Become a better communicator – a Workshop to boost your Active Listening skills  
   Caught in a Vicious Circle: Why Knowledge alone won’t change it  
   Enjoy your voice – sing a round  
   Introduction into the Zentangle® Method (Material included)  
   Leadership Exercise: What makes a High Performing Team?  
   Lies, Legends and Wikipedia - Pseudofactual writing and espionage  
   Neurodiversity Community Talk  
   Otherness Across Cultures  
   Relaxed³  
   Speed-Connecting  

Events by Location

Maritim Hotel    Become a better communicator – a Workshop to boost your Active Listening skills  
   BoutIQue-Wertgutschein
   Caught in a Vicious Circle: Why Knowledge alone won’t change it  
   Communicating Complex Content with AI: An Insight into New Possibilities  
   Crime Scene work throughout the times  
   Dine Around for Early Birds - Rheinische Stuv  
   Discofox, just Dance!
   Enjoy your voice – sing a round  
   ExComm meeting lunch (Thursday)  
   Gala Dinner  
   Helsinki Party  
   Highly Sensitive Person - Introduction to a Psychological and Social Phenomenon  
   How to solve the Climate Crisis (if you think like an Engineer)  
   IBD Delegate Lunch Tickets & Coffee Breaks  
   IBD Delegate Lunch Tickets (IBD delegates only!)  
   IBD meeting lunch (Friday)  
   IBD meeting lunch (Saturday)  
   IBD meeting lunch (Sunday)  
   Icebreaker  
   International Volunteer Network Conference (IVN+)  
   Introduction into the Zentangle® Method (Material included)  
   Introduction to Esperanto - The world`s easiest Language  
   Lead me, Follow me, or Get out of my Way (General Patton)  
   Leadership Exercise: What makes a High Performing Team?  
   Lies, Legends and Wikipedia - Pseudofactual writing and espionage  
   Neurodiversity Community Talk  
   Otherness Across Cultures  
   Relaxed³  
   Retire Early  
   SIGHT, meeting mensans traveling  
   Single Malt Whisky Tasting (Material included)  
   Speed-Connecting  
   Step Inside Connectivity: A Tour of the Vodafone Campus in Düsseldorf

Trips    Self Trip: Visit Games Convention “SPIEL Essen” (You need to Book your Ticket)  

Düsseldorf    Axe Throwing (really!)
   Botanical Garden - Guided Tour “Climate Change“  
   Bouldering with training session (Registration necessary)
   Bowling
   Bowling
   City by the River Rhine  
   City Tour by Former Homeless People (German Language only)  
   City Tour Düsseldorf in Private Bus   ()
   Company Tour in Bakery “Bäckerei Hinkel“  
   Company Tour Kiepe Electric GmbH (transmission of personal data required)
   Company Tour Teekanne (German; transmission of personal data required)
   Craftbeer & Streetfood
   Dine Around - Bob & Mary
   Dine Around - Brauhaus am Dreieck  
   Dine Around - Himmel & Ähd  
   Dine Around - Zum Schlüssel  
   Düsseldorf Food Tour
   Escape Room: Fiction Escape   ()
   Escape Room: Mr. Tesla   ()
   Factory Tour - Production Facility “Killepitsch“ Herbal Liquer from Düsseldorf
   Gellyball (small Paintballs)
   Glowzone Blacklight 4D Minigolf
   Guided Tour Bonsai Museum Düsseldorf (open air)
   Guided Tour Craft Brewery - Hausbrauerei “Uerige“ in the Old Town (Altstadt)
   Guided Tour DB Regio AG Düsseldorf (workshop for local train maintenance)
   Guided Tour Film Museum Düsseldorf   ()
   Guided Tour of the Düsseldorf City Museum   ()
   Guided Tour Puppet Theatre “Düsseldorfer Marionettentheater“
   Guided Tour Synagogue Düsseldorf (transmission of personal data required)
   Icons of Architecture in Düsseldorf  
   K20: Collection of Art - Guided Tour  
   K20: Exhibition “Queer Modernism“  
   K21: Collection of Art - Guided Tour  
   Lasertag
   Max Planck Institute for Sustainable Materials   ()
   Media Harbor & Rhinetower: Architecture and Panoramic Views  
   Meet the Alpacas on the Pasture
   MY-Breakfast   ()
   MY-Dinner  
   Nightwatchman Tour   ()
   Old Town (Altstadt) Tour  
   Opera House Backstage Tour
   Panorama Cruise
   Power Plant Tour Düsseldorf-Lausward (transmission of personal data required)
   Roncalli`s Apollo Varieté   ()
   Sewage Canal Tour
   The Japanese Quarter along Immermannstraße - Düsseldorf`s Little Tokyo
   THW (Federal Agency for Technical Relief)   ()
   Urban Art Walk  
   Virtual Reality - Fight Zombies in a Free Walk Experience
   Visit Editorial Office of Handelsblatt (transmission of personal data required)   ()
   Waste Incineration Plant Tour (transmission of personal data required)
   WDR Düsseldorf (transmission of personal data required)  

Cologne    Cologne Central Mosque (one of Europe`s largest mosques)  
   Farina Duftmuseum - Fragrance Museum Farina
   Guided Tour at DLR (transmission of personal data required)
   Guided Tour Cologne: The most impressive City on the River Rhine  
   Guided Tour in the Cologne Cathedral  
   Guided Tour of Cologne`s Underground
   Guided Tour on the roof of the Cologne Cathedral
   Museum of Chocolate - Guided Tour with Tasting  
   WDR Cologne Radio/TV Studios (transmission of personal data required)

Wuppertal    MY Lasertag Wuppertal
   Suspension Railway Museum (Schwebodrom) Wuppertal  

Leverkusen    Germanys Industrial Powerhouse CHEMPARK (transmission of personal data required)   ()

Events by Days

Events Wednesday, 22.10.    19:00  Dine Around for Early Birds - Rheinische Stuv  

Events Thursday, 23.10.    07:31  IBD Delegate Lunch Tickets (IBD delegates only!)  
   07:31  IBD Delegate Lunch Tickets & Coffee Breaks  
   07:34  BoutIQue-Wertgutschein
   09:30  MY-Breakfast   ()
   10:00  Max Planck Institute for Sustainable Materials   ()
   10:00  Step Inside Connectivity: A Tour of the Vodafone Campus in Düsseldorf
   10:30  Company Tour Teekanne (German; transmission of personal data required)
   11:00  Waste Incineration Plant Tour (transmission of personal data required)
   11:30  Guided Tour DB Regio AG Düsseldorf (workshop for local train maintenance)
   12:00  The Japanese Quarter along Immermannstraße - Düsseldorf`s Little Tokyo
   12:30  ExComm meeting lunch (Thursday)  
   13:00  Germanys Industrial Powerhouse CHEMPARK (transmission of personal data required)   ()
   13:00  Guided Tour Craft Brewery - Hausbrauerei “Uerige“ in the Old Town (Altstadt)
   13:00  WDR Düsseldorf (transmission of personal data required)  
   14:00  Axe Throwing (really!)
   14:00  Düsseldorf Food Tour
   14:00  Sewage Canal Tour
   14:30  Icons of Architecture in Düsseldorf  
   14:45  Guided Tour Synagogue Düsseldorf (transmission of personal data required)
   15:00  City Tour by Former Homeless People (German Language only)  
   15:00  Panorama Cruise
   15:20  K20: Collection of Art - Guided Tour  
   15:30  Old Town (Altstadt) Tour  
   15:30  The Japanese Quarter along Immermannstraße - Düsseldorf`s Little Tokyo
   16:15  Escape Room: Fiction Escape   ()
   16:15  Escape Room: Mr. Tesla   ()
   16:30  Guided Tour of the Düsseldorf City Museum   ()
   16:30  Guided Tour Puppet Theatre “Düsseldorfer Marionettentheater“
   16:30  Meet the Alpacas on the Pasture
   18:00  Company Tour in Bakery “Bäckerei Hinkel“  
   18:30  Dine Around - Bob & Mary
   19:00  Icebreaker  
   19:30  Roncalli`s Apollo Varieté   ()
   20:00  Nightwatchman Tour   ()

Events Friday, 24.10.    08:45  Visit Editorial Office of Handelsblatt (transmission of personal data required)   ()
   09:00  Company Tour Kiepe Electric GmbH (transmission of personal data required)
   09:00  International Volunteer Network Conference (IVN+)  
   09:00  Leadership Exercise: What makes a High Performing Team?  
   09:00  Speed-Connecting  
   09:50  Guided Tour in the Cologne Cathedral  
   10:00  Botanical Garden - Guided Tour “Climate Change“  
   10:00  City by the River Rhine  
   10:00  Guided Tour Cologne: The most impressive City on the River Rhine  
   10:00  Guided Tour DB Regio AG Düsseldorf (workshop for local train maintenance)
   10:00  Self Trip: Visit Games Convention “SPIEL Essen” (You need to Book your Ticket)  
   10:00  The Japanese Quarter along Immermannstraße - Düsseldorf`s Little Tokyo
   10:30  Panorama Cruise
   10:45  Crime Scene work throughout the times  
   11:00  Power Plant Tour Düsseldorf-Lausward (transmission of personal data required)
   12:00  Bouldering with training session (Registration necessary)
   12:00  Guided Tour DB Regio AG Düsseldorf (workshop for local train maintenance)
   12:00  Otherness Across Cultures  
   12:30  Enjoy your voice – sing a round  
   12:30  IBD meeting lunch (Friday)  
   12:45  Farina Duftmuseum - Fragrance Museum Farina
   13:00  WDR Düsseldorf (transmission of personal data required)  
   13:45  Guided Tour at DLR (transmission of personal data required)
   14:00  Lasertag
   14:00  Relaxed³  
   14:15  Cologne Central Mosque (one of Europe`s largest mosques)  
   15:00  Escape Room: Fiction Escape   ()
   15:00  WDR Cologne Radio/TV Studios (transmission of personal data required)
   15:30  Axe Throwing (really!)
   15:30  Guided Tour of Cologne`s Underground
   15:50  Guided Tour on the roof of the Cologne Cathedral
   16:00  Craftbeer & Streetfood
   16:00  Guided Tour Film Museum Düsseldorf   ()
   16:00  Introduction to Esperanto - The world`s easiest Language  
   16:00  Museum of Chocolate - Guided Tour with Tasting  
   16:00  Virtual Reality - Fight Zombies in a Free Walk Experience
   16:05  Suspension Railway Museum (Schwebodrom) Wuppertal  
   18:15  Neurodiversity Community Talk  
   18:30  Dine Around - Bob & Mary
   19:00  Dine Around - Brauhaus am Dreieck  
   19:00  MY-Dinner  
   19:30  Roncalli`s Apollo Varieté   ()
   20:00  Nightwatchman Tour   ()

Events Saturday, 25.10.    09:00  Highly Sensitive Person - Introduction to a Psychological and Social Phenomenon  
   09:00  How to solve the Climate Crisis (if you think like an Engineer)  
   09:00  International Volunteer Network Conference (IVN+)  
   10:00  Guided Tour DB Regio AG Düsseldorf (workshop for local train maintenance)
   10:00  Virtual Reality - Fight Zombies in a Free Walk Experience
   10:30  Gellyball (small Paintballs)
   10:30  Virtual Reality - Fight Zombies in a Free Walk Experience
   10:45  Introduction into the Zentangle® Method (Material included)  
   10:45  SIGHT, meeting mensans traveling  
   10:50  Opera House Backstage Tour
   11:00  Axe Throwing (really!)
   11:00  Lead me, Follow me, or Get out of my Way (General Patton)  
   11:20  K21: Collection of Art - Guided Tour  
   12:00  Caught in a Vicious Circle: Why Knowledge alone won’t change it  
   12:00  Factory Tour - Production Facility “Killepitsch“ Herbal Liquer from Düsseldorf
   12:15  Discofox, just Dance!
   12:30  IBD meeting lunch (Saturday)  
   12:35  Opera House Backstage Tour
   12:50  K20: Exhibition “Queer Modernism“  
   13:45  Become a better communicator – a Workshop to boost your Active Listening skills  
   14:00  MY Lasertag Wuppertal
   14:00  Old Town (Altstadt) Tour  
   14:00  THW (Federal Agency for Technical Relief)   ()
   14:15  Retire Early  
   14:20  K20: Collection of Art - Guided Tour  
   15:00  Icons of Architecture in Düsseldorf  
   15:00  Panorama Cruise
   15:30  Glowzone Blacklight 4D Minigolf
   16:00  Communicating Complex Content with AI: An Insight into New Possibilities  
   16:00  Single Malt Whisky Tasting (Material included)  
   16:00  Urban Art Walk  
   17:00  Bowling
   19:00  Dine Around - Himmel & Ähd  
   19:00  Gala Dinner  
   19:30  Roncalli`s Apollo Varieté   ()
   20:00  Nightwatchman Tour   ()

Events Sunday, 26.10.    10:00  Bowling
   10:00  Icons of Architecture in Düsseldorf  
   10:30  Media Harbor & Rhinetower: Architecture and Panoramic Views  
   11:00  Lies, Legends and Wikipedia - Pseudofactual writing and espionage  
   11:00  Old Town (Altstadt) Tour  
   11:30  Axe Throwing (really!)
   12:00  Guided Tour Bonsai Museum Düsseldorf (open air)
   12:00  Panorama Cruise
   12:30  IBD meeting lunch (Sunday)  
   13:30  Roncalli`s Apollo Varieté   ()
   14:00  City Tour Düsseldorf in Private Bus   ()
   18:00  Dine Around - Zum Schlüssel  
   19:00  Helsinki Party  

Time Tables


The main venue is the Maritim Hotel Düsseldorf, Maritim-Platz 1, 40474 Düsseldorf, Google Maps.
The hotel is located within walking distance of Düsseldorf international airport (IATA code DUS) and just a quarter of an hour from Düsseldorf main railway station using local trains.

Visitors not attending the IBD Meeting 2025 itself will be offered the odd** event like presentations, sightseeing, company tours, cultural events, games, talks, tastings, cozy hours, get-togethers and much more (a bit like a German Mensa annual gathering).

If you have wishes, recommendations for things you want to see, visit, taste, drink, or hear as part of the IBD+, or want to offer your support, or just have a question please drop us an email at ibd2025@mensa.de.

+ The plus indicates that we will offer quite a few events for visitors.
* The International Board of Directors meeting (IBD) is the general meeting of the worldwide leadership of Mensa.
** Well, quite a few events as a matter of fact


Here is some information we have compiled for you:

Important things

The “+” in IBD+ explained  •  What will IBD+ really offer  •  Upon arrival & during IBD+

Organisational things

Last Minute Information  •  General Information  •  How to get there  •  Accommodation
Newsletter & Channels  •  Apps & Downloads  •  Registration  •  Login Issues

Transport

During IBD+  •  Trains  •  Local  •  Planes  •  Cars

More about Germany

Fun (and interesting) Facts about Germany and Düsseldorf  •  Important to know
Currency & Payment  •  Electrical Devices  •  Shopping in Germany  •  WiFi & Mobile
Weather/Packing Recommendations  •  Emergencies/Medical Support