Although Austria was never colonial, the Habsburg empire was of worldwide influence for many centuries. Especially the dynastic marriage policies were characteristic to build the empire. The Habsburg collections represented the power and influence of the dynasty and were presented in early modern history Kunst- und Wunderkammer, like Ambras castle. The institution museum was mainly introduced as the large Royal museums in Vienna, the Museum of Fine arts and the Natural History Museums in Vienna, were opened also for the public.  The influence of the empire is also represented by the museum collections which is the reason why todays museum collections in Vienna are of worldwide relevance. One of the largest non-European collections is located in Vienna and is part of the Weltmuseum Wien, an ethnographical collection. Of special importance for the collection of items were also study trips, undertaken for example by Archdukes Franz Stephan von Lothringen. In this context, large collections of objects were built. This contribution will give a brief overview on the history of collecting in Austria, focusing on the former Habsburg collections that build the basis for todays federal museum in Vienna. These collections built the self-image of these museums almost for centuries.  In this context the question arises, how Austrian museums deal with the question of decolonizing. Thus, the contribution will also focus on current discourses going on in Austria in terms of decolonizing museum collection. This will be discussed also taking the theory of museology into consideration, arguing that museum collections are also expressions of special times, circumstances and persons and ask thereby the question in which way museums can transform such narratives for future generations.