The South and East Museums Federation is unique among UK Museum Federations in organising an annual study trip that gives members a rare opportunity to visit behind the scenes and meet members of staff from museums across Europe and beyond.
Study trips are organised voluntarily by SEMFed members. It is a great opportunity to learn from fellow professionals across the world and socialise with fellow SEMFed members over dinner & drinks.
In previous years we have visited Valencia, Paris, Cardiff, Copenhagen, Cologne, Amsterdam, and Rome.
Study Trip 2026: Luxembourg City, 4th-7th February
Luxembourg City is the capital of one of Europe’s smallest nations. Historically a fortified town on the confluence of the Alzette and Pétrusse rivers the city has today developed into a banking centre and one of the de facto capitals of the European Union.
Officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the country sits between France, Germany, and Belgium. As part of the Low Countries, Luxembourg has close historic, political, and cultural ties to Belgium and the Netherlands, as well as being greatly influenced by France and Germany. The official national language is Luxembourgish, a Germanic language, but French and German are also commonly used. (English is also widely spoken.)
The country’s population is 682,000, smaller than that of Suffolk (786,000), Norfolk (932,000), Hertfordshire (1.2 million) and less than half that of Essex (1.9 million). The small population is, however, growing quickly, and foreigners account for almost half of residents (Luxembourg City is made up of people from 160 nationalities).
Luxembourg City is very compact and is home to many heritage and cultural institutions. It was the first city to be named European Capital of Culture twice, in 1995 and 2007, and the Old City is on a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Direct flights are available from Stansted and London City, or travel by Eurostar to Brussels then by local trains directly to Luxembourg City.
Download the information pack here.
Martin Howe Bursary
Each year, the Federation offers a travel bursary in honour of Martin Howe, an ex-President of the Fed who was involved with the organisation for many years.
Martin Howe was Curator at Peterborough Museum from the 1980s to the early 1990s, when he became ill and died at a young age. His background was in archaeology and he had excavated all over the place including in Scandinavia, but by instinct he was a polymath, interested in and knowledgeable about a wide range of human history. Together with Martin’s widow, the Federation decided a travel bursary would be a small but fitting way to commemorate his life.
The £200 bursary helps to cover travel and accommodation costs of the study trip and is open to all SEMFed members who have not been on the Study Trip before.
Download information about how to apply for the bursary for our 2026 trip to Luxembourg.