Industrial & heritage museums in North Holland

The Heineken Experience is housed in the former Heineken brewery in 1876. The building has served as a Heineken brewery until 1988. Visitors are introduced to more than 150 years of craftsmanship. In a show, Heineken shows that it is the most international beer in the world. In a 4D experience visit

The Steamtrain Hoorn Medemblik museum is dedicated to the steam train in the Netherlands. The museum uses the former freight and classification yard of that station of Hoorn. Steam trams drive from village to village on the railway between Hoorn and Medemblik from 1887. The collection consists of st

Museum van de Twintigste Eeuw is housed in an old prison. It is a nostalgic museum dedicated to the 20th century. The museum displays interiors and objects from the period 1900 to around 2000. The museum includes old living rooms, a classroom, kitchen equipment, toys, audio and video equipment and o

The Zaans museum is housed in a modern building on the Zaanse Schans. The museum illustrates the cultural and industrial heritage of Zaandam. It exhibits paintings, films, photographs, objects and painted furniture. The Verkade Pavilion is part of the museum, a chocolate and biscuit factory from the

Maritime and Beachcomber Museum Flora is the largest beachcomber museum in the world. The museum displays old beachcomber finds and beachcombers talk about their experiences and wanderings on the beach. Various exhibits are on display and films are shown. For children there are scavenger hunts, vari

Cruquius Museum is housed in the former pumping station Cruquius, that was used between 1848 and 1852 for the reclamation of the Haarlemmermeer. The museum is dedicated to the industrial history. The collection consists of steam engines, old maps, that illustrate 2000 years of fighting against water

Museummolen Schermerhorn is a mill from 1634 that was used to drain the water from the Schermerpolder. It is one of the eleven remaining mills of the former Schermerpolder mill complex. The mill can be visited from top to bottom, which lets the visitor properly see the operation of the mill. The mus

The Dutch Steam Engine Museum shows, through working examples, the exciting history of the development of the steam engine. Steam engines played a major role in the Industrial Revolution. Most of the engines have since been replaced by other forms of power but fortunately we still have some of those

The Molen van Sloten – Kuiperijmuseum includes an original ‘poldermolen’ and a museum where visitors learn how barrels are made. The Molen van Sloten is a functioning ‘poldermolen’ and is the only mill in Amsterdam that is daily open to the public. It is a ‘stellingmolen’ with a backside that was re

The Beurs van Berlage was designed as a commodity exchange by architect Hendrik Petrus Berlage. The building was constructed between 1896 and 1903 and now serves as a centre for exhibitions and conferences.

Always wanted to know why Edam is so famous? Henri Willig has built an experience in Edam where the glorious history of Edam cheese is told and where you can learn everything about Edam cheese from the past and also today. A nice outing for all ages. The experience is wheelchair accessible. Edam

The Gemeentemuseum Weesp is housed in the town hall, located on the entire second floor of the building. Between 1759 and 1768 the first porcelain in the Netherlands was produced in Weesp. The main part of the museum’s collection consists of this 18th century Dutch porcelain. Besides porcelain, Wees

CRASH Luchtoorlog- en Verzetsmuseum '40-'45 illustrates the story of aircraft crews in the war and their mission. The collection includes documents, photographs, old newspapers, and personal items. The remains of the aircraft are also exhibited. Important in the museum is the wreck of a Dutch fight

Texel Heritage Museum Waelstee gives a comprehensive picture of life in the past on Texel. The museum features various authentic agricultural machines, sledges, and farm wagons and carriages that were used on Texel in the past. In addition, the museum displays several machines and objects for milk p

The Polder Museum is housed in the former pumping station ‘Het Grootslag’, with the National Saet and Cruyt Museum. The museum organizes exhibitions on 5000 years living and working in the polder 'Het Grootslag’. The collection of the museum includes archaeological finds, tools, photographs and vari

Museum 't Kromhout Kromhout is a ‘working museum’ that features a collection of engines that are manufactured by Firma Kromhout. All engines that are on display are still functional and will be demonstrated. The museum also features an original forge from the nineteenth century and a film room with

Poldermuseum Heerhugowaard is located in the former pumping station on the southern ring dike. The museum displays cultural-historical objects related to the Heerhugowaard polder. Among other things, there is a permanent collection of two archaeological finds from the polder as well as jewelry, maps

Stoomgemaal Halfweg is the oldest steam pumping station in the world. It was built as a basin pumping station, to discharge the water pumped out by the Haarlemmermeer Lake to the sea. The pumping station still operates several days a year.