Industrial & heritage museums in the Netherlands

History can be viewed from many angles. This versatility is reflected in the Dutch Open Air Museum. Here you will find buildings, objects, and stories that are up to two hundred years old. You reflect on the major events in our history as well as the 'small' moments of daily life. You immerse yourse

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 Afsluitdijk Wadden Center is an exhibition center situated on the Afsluitdijk in Kornwerderzand, in the Dutch province of Friesland. This location offers a unique opportunity for visitors to learn about the history and future of the Afsluitdijk, the Wadden Sea, the IJsselmeer, and the Fish Migration River.

Stedelijk Molenmuseum De Valk is housed in De Valk, a mill from 1743. The museum features the only preserved mill house in the Netherlands, from 1900. In the sleeping loft and the storage loft, the history and technology of mills and wheat grinding is illustrated. In the attic the visitor can see th

At Museum Batavialand, you uncover hidden stories through three unique experiences: Step aboard the reconstructed VOC ship Batavia, discover traditional crafts at the shipyard, and dive into the history of Flevoland in our exhibition spaces. All included with just one ticket! Parking is easy right

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

Steenkolenmijn Valkenburg illustrates the world of mining. In an underground, in mining style decorated film room, a promotional film is shown of the State Mines (DSM) from the sixties. The film gives an overview of the mining industry. Ex-miners show the world of coal mining, while visitors walk al

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

The Jenever Museum is housed in a former wine and malt distillery. The museum covers everything about Jenever. The collection includes packaging, glassware and advertising. It illustrates the story of the history and background of Jenever. There is also a tasting room in the museum and a historic di

Everything related to textiles The TextielMuseum is a dynamic and creative working museum located in a former textile factory in Tilburg. It is the only place in the world where textile design, art, fashion, industrial heritage and innovation come together.

The Hertog Jan-Brouwerij is located at the spot where a hundred years ago four friends opened the first Hertog Jan brewery. Beer is still brewed here. During a visit to the brewery, the visitor gets a tour through the entire brewing process. When the tour is finished, visitors can visit ‘Café Hertog

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 Ir. DF Woudagemaal is the largest pumping station in the world that is still in operation. The pumping station is used to lower the water level in Friesland and is one of the top 100 Dutch UNESCO monuments. The machine park includes four tandem compound steam engines with large linked flywheels

Discovery Museum is a museum on science and engineering. The museum illustrates the development of science and technology in the past, the present and the future. The museum covers historical themes such as Maastricht earthenware and coal mining, but also newer developments are discussed such as sus

The MEC Museum (Mechanical Heritage Center) in Dronten is a museum with a large diverse collection, from sewing machines and tools to large steam engines and historic combustion engines. A 1942 English patrol ship/minesweeper, and a 1949 icebreaker, etc. Every third Saturday of the month is steam d

The Stoomtrein Goes - Borsele is a ‘moving museum’ that includes a museum railway with historical carriages and locomotives. The museum owns the entire railway from the thirties. The train travels through ‘De Zak van Zuid-Beveland’, characterised by small polders and dikes. The trip starts at the ol

Cube was Holland's first museum entirely dedicated to design. Cube displayed meaningful design that has an impact on the world. The museum has merged with the Discovery Museum in Kerkrade since 2021.

Museum Buurtspoorweg (MBS) is a museum railway line between Haaksbergen and Boekelo. The collection of the museum consists of steam locomotives, diesel locomotives, restored train carriages and a collection of historical objects. Visitors experience how people travelled in the past. The museum illus

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 Veluwsche Stoomtrein Maatschappij (VSM) is operating a heritage railway between Apeldoorn, Beekbergen, Loenen, Eerbeek and Dieren. Especially the VSM’s Railway Museum in Beekbergen is worth a visit. This museum includes the locomotive workshops and depot where water and coal is loaded in the eng

At the Dutch Mining Museum in Heerlen, you can discover the different facets of the colourful mining history: dark stories, golden times, grey sides and colourful perspectives. We tell our story at two locations: At the main location of the Dutch Mining Museum, the mining history is literally and

Explore our Oyfo Engineering Museum. In Hazemeijer's old factory, explore what technology means in our lives. See how our world is changing because of technology. Learn all about steam engines and smartphones, robots and art, energy sources and our planet. In short, everything about man and technolo

Museum the Cigar Maker is dedicated to the craft of making cigars by hand. Among other things, the museum displays cigars, books about cigars and assorted boxes in which the cigars are preserved. Everything that was made around cigars (bands, presenters and other packaging) are also on display in mu

The Nationaal Grammofoonmuseum (National Gramophone Museum) tells the history of recording and reproducing sound from 1877, when the phonograph was invented, to 1980 when digital technology heralded the end of the analogue era of the gramophone, the cassette recorder and the tape recorder. The museu

The Nationaal Brandweermuseum is housed in two former marine buildings from 1786. The museum exhibits a collection of firefighting equipment that was used in the Netherlands. The collection includes primitive tools from the 16th century to modern tools of the present. It includes old fire engines, s

The fortress of the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie has Unesco World Heritage status. Hidden under the earth, the fort is five stories high and from the roof you have a spectacular view. Where else can you look across the Waal, Rhine and Pannerdensch Kanaal than here - at Doornenburg? Come to Fort Panne

Museum Joure is housed in ten buildings, including six national monuments. The ten buildings are surrounded by quays and a museum garden. One of the buildings once was the first factory of Dutch coffee manufacturer Douwe Egberts. The building features a coffee, tea and tobacco collection. On the 19t

Museumspoorlijn STAR includes diesel trains and a historical steam train and is located between Veendam and Musselkanaal. With a track of 26 kilometres it is the longest museum line of the Netherlands. The carriages shed is converted into a museum, where a collection of authentic attributes from the

Museum 't Oude Slot is housed in a 200-year-old farm, built on the foundations of the Manor ‘Slot Zeelst’ from approx 1575. The museum manages a unique collection of 17th until early 20th century prints, regional archaeological finds and objects from earlier life in the nearby Kempen area. There ar

The Veenkoloniaal Museum is a cultural history museum dedicated to the Groningen ‘Veenkoloniën’. The museum covers East Groningen, peat growth and the ‘Bourtanger Moor’. The permanent collection consists of two subcollections: a maritime collection and a collection with objects related to the agricu

Alois Senefelder discovers stone printing or lithography in 1798. He thus brought the world for the first time a printing technique to reproduce images quickly, massively and inexpensively. Starting in 1837, this could finally be done in color! The further development of photolithography perfected a

Touwmuseum De Baanschuur is housed in a barn where ropes were made. Rope makers used to store their hemp, yarn and spindles here. Videos and photos illustrate the life of the farmer and the rope maker. The exhibition of the museum includes original ropewalk and old tools.

Stoomgemaal De Tuut was built between 1916 and 1918 and took care of the necessary drainage of the land of Maas and Waal. Unlike other steam pumping stations in the Gelderland river area, Stoomgemaal De Tuut is preserved. This gives visitors the opportunity to get to know the world of pumping statio

This is a Museum for about and by inland navigation, run by volunteers ( former boaters ).

Welcome in the smallest museum of the northern Netherlands Here you will encounter a large collection of tin boxes and commercial memorabilia of well-known Dutch brands as De Gruyter, Douwe Egberts, Van Nelle, Van Houten, Broekema, Verkade, Niemeijer, Tiktak and many more. The collection offers

Authentic and unique 1852 industrial mill containing a "department" for the production of linseed oil (called oil milling) and a "department" of flour milling. Both are still fully operational and are still in regular use. Everything still functions just as it was built in 1852. Regularly, a grou

The Dutch Wine Museum is dedicated to the history and future of wine. The old wine cellars show the process from grape to wine and the museum tells why one wine tastes different from another.

Old agricultural machinery of the brand and dealership McCormick-Deering / International Harvester / Farmall (IHC), including tractors, plows, mowers. Attention to the Marshall Plan and its role in the post-war development of agricultural mechanization in the region. Also peat-colonial agricultural

Weverijmuseum Geldrop is housed in a monumental factory building. The main collection of the museum consists of looms and machines. The museum shows how to weave and how the process has evolved. In addition there are machines that show how yarn is made and a loom where ‘smeerkussens’ are woven. The

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.

Zoutmuseum Delden is situated in the gardens of castle Twickel, on the grounds where salt was found in the soil in 1886. The museum illustrates the history of this treasure. In the permanent exhibition various topics on salt are covered such as salt mining, the formation of salt layers and the symbo

The Stedelijk Museum Coevorden is housed in the Arsenal of Coevorden. The museum illustrates the story of the fortified town of Coevorden from the time in which the first viscount lived to the present. Coevorden was captured destroyed and rebuilt several times in its history. The museum features a c

Sand Stories is the largest covered exhibition of sand sculptures in the world. In three large halls, with more than 300 sand sculptures, the story of our culture of Bibles and fishing boats comes to life, and this exhibition shows the areas of tension between the past and present. Dozens of stori

The Vlasserij-Suikermuseum is located at the west corner of North Brabant, where flax and sugar beet have been cultivated for years. The museum shows the process and the products that are made from both sugar beet and flax, such as linseed oil, flax ribbon, linen and sugar. The museum features vario

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 Museum Factory in Winterswijk tells about the history of this village. From the time when dinosaurs swam there, the late Middle Ages, the emerging textile industry in the last century to the history of our fathers and mothers. An extensive collection of fossils from the quarry, remains of mammot

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

Have you ever wondered what happened to all those wonderful old buses that ran in the Netherlands and which you only now see in old films and books? Well, the good news is, some of them live on! While thousands went to the scrap yard at the end of their working lives, some have found their way into

The Sudergemaal (pumping station) from 1924 was one of the first electric pumping stations in Friesland. The museum pumping station shows how, after the peat extraction, the remaining marshy land could be cultivated. Art exhibitions are regularly organised in the pumping station with works by artist

The National Cooperative Museum is dedicated to the history of the consumer cooperatives that were especially active between the two world wars. More than ten percent of the Dutch population was affiliated with a convenience store at the time. The collection includes books, brochures, minutes, perio

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

Het Oertijdmuseum in Boxtel is a geological and natural history museum. Among other things, (dinosaur) fossils from small to huge, and various stones and minerals are shown. The volunteers of the Dinolab and the Dinowerkplaats work on the process from-bone-to-skeleton and will explain this proces. G

Welcome aboard this Dutch navy ship from the 1950s. EXPLORE over 20 ROOMS across 7 DECKS! * Step into the commander’s cabin * cabins of the (sub) officers * sleeping quarters * operations room * SIGN YOUR NAME in the radio cabin * descend to one of the large engine rooms and START THE ENGINES * stan

Stadsmuseum Veenendaal illustratesthe history of Veenendaal. It is dedicated to the flood of 1855, the Second World War and the local cigar and wool industry. In the treasury, the museum displays various objects such as leadlights from the Panther factory, a barge that transported peat and a silver

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

Museummolen De Nieuwe Palmboom is housed in ‘De Palmboom’, a windmill in Schiedam which was built in 1781 to grind raw materials for the production of jenever. The museum illustrates the history of mills of Schiedam and the production of grain into jenever. The museum also displays a model of the ci

Cultuurhistorisch streek- en handkarren museum De Wemme organizes a new exhibition each year that is related to the social cultural development of the Netherlands. The museum annually organises new exhibitions on sculptures in the orchard. The exhibition area houses a restoration workshop and a forg

Museum Kruithuis is located on the edge of the center of 's-Hertogenbosch and offers a unique insight into the history of the Eighty Years' War, the siege of 1629 and the special role of water. With this exhibition, Kring Vrienden takes you on an impressive journey through time in the only remaining

The C1000 Museum offers a unique insight into the history of a supermarket formula that was part of daily life in the Netherlands for many years. In the museum you will discover the changes in grocery shopping over the years in general as well as the history of C1000 itself. With a collection of

In the Maastricht Museum, on the 1st floor of Centre Céramique, we tell the hidden stories of this extraordinary city. Our time travel begins about 7,000 years ago, with the first permanent inhabitants. From there we go to the Roman conquerors. They built a bridge over the Meuse River here for the f

The Forge Museum Nieuwkoop is located in picturesque, watery Nieuwkoop. A unique example of cultural and industrial heritage, this museum is dedicated to the history of the many smithies, which stood at Zuideinde in Nieuwkoop. Visitors here learn about the origins of the forges and the lives of the

Museummolen Jan Pol is a mill from 1820. The mill houses exhibitions on the history of the mill Jan Pol and the villages Dalen, Dalerpeel, Wachtum and Stieltjeskanaal. At the ‘meelzolder’ prehistoric grinding stones and old types of grains and weighing flour are on display. There are also finds from

The Fort near Asperen is a military heritage site and part of the New Dutch Waterline that is on the nomination list for UNESCO World Heritage. The fort is a so-called tower fort that was built from 1840 onwards. Tower forts were often built in the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie. This tower is made

The Panorama Walcheren surprises visitors with a unique art project of ten mega-paintings, up to 3 meters high and from 14 to as much as 40 meters wide. Each arranged in a curve, making it feel like you are part to become part of the image itself. They are characteristic Walcheren places with eac

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

The Waalres Museum is housed in the former linen factory ‘Swane’ from 1861. The museum has three collections. The largest collection is the collection of historical damask from the 16th to the 19th century. The Industrial Heritage collection consists of objects that are related to the cultural herit

Museum R.T.M. Ouddorp is a tram museum that runs a tram service with trams from the former ‘Rotterdamse Tramweg Maatschappij’. From 1898 until the 60s of the last century, steam trams of this company ran between Rotterdam and the South Holland islands. The museum exhibits the trams that ran on these

The Industrieel Smalspoor Museum is located on a site of six hectares, next to the Dommerkanaal. Historical machines and locomotives are on display here. The visitor can make a trip through the forest with a narrow gauge railway train. This route was used for the transport of peat to the peat plants

Do you want to know how the beautiful Grolsch ends up in the unique swing-top bottle? Then visit the Grolsch brewery for an extensive tour. Everything you want to know will be covered; the rich history, the brewing of the characteristic lager and the many specialty beers, the bottling of the unique

The Tapijtmuseum is housed in two factory buildings. The museum illustrates the history of the Dutch production of broadloom carpets. On the ground floor old looms are displayed. The first floor offers space for presentations of handicrafts and handloom weaving. On the second floor is a cinema and a

Museumgemaal Cremer is a pumping station from 1930. Natural gas production caused subsidence which made the building of a new pumping station inevitable. In 2002, the pumping station was no longer used and became a museum pumping station. It is named after father and son Cremer, hydraulic engineers

The Gelderse Smalspoor Stichting has a collection of narrow gauge railway trains and related objects. The collection includes old locomotives such as the Deutz OMD 117f, Diemas, the Whitcomb and a large 24-ton heavy electric locomotive and carriages and ‘lorries’. Visitors can also take a ride on th

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

Papierfabriek De Middelste Molen is the only mill in the Netherlands that has been preserved in its original state. Papierfabriek De Middelste Molen has produced paper since 1622. The museum illustrates the production processes of old Dutch paper. Besides paper making by machines, the museum also co

Armed with a tasting glass, the visitor experiences step by step how Bavaria beer is brewed. Find out about the quality of Bavaria beer, taste the ingredients, learn how Bavaria beer is brewed and learn about the family history. After the Bavaria Beer tour, each visitor (18+) receives a Bavaria gift

Baksteenmuseum De Panoven is a heritage museum, but was once a brickyard. The buildings and machines are still in very good condition. The museum features the only round zigzag oven of Europe and it displays unique films and books on the ceramic industry.

The Miljoenenlijn is a railway line that runs through the hilly surroundings. It connects the stations Landgraaf and Simpelveld. Visitors can make train trips with steam and diesel traction or go visit the station and see the surrounding park. At various stops visitors can leave the train, including

The museum shows how life was early 1900, in the new build "barn" additional themes are shown, ao, winter and ice scating, cheese in the area. Meeting rooms available.

The HomeComputerMuseum is an interactive (hands-on) journey through the history of the home computer since 1977. Over 200 computers are ready to be tried by the visitors to experience to write a letter or start and play a game on an old computer. Everything is set in a time correct environment. A no

In Museummolen De Walvisch (Museum Mill De Walvisch) you will get acquainted with the giant malt or burner mills of Schiedam that exclusively milled for the gin industry. They are the highest mills in the world.

A museum with more than 100 playable pinball machines, a rich history with history room and antiquities. An interactive museum for young and old.

The Bolwerksmolen dates back to 1863. It is the only wind-powered saw mill in the province of Overijssel. Demonstrations on sawing, grinding, hoisting logs from the water, hoisting and securing trees on the saw carriage, among others, are given.

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.

The Fisheries and Cultural History Museum grew out of the initiative of a group of enthusiastic residents of Woudrichem. They started collecting historical material about river fishing. In a few years, so much material was gathered that it was decided to set up a museum. The collection provides an a

At the EDAH Museum, visitors experience over 100 years of food distribution. The history of the EDAH company supplemented by others takes the visitor back in time. The museum shows, among other things, products, store types marketing concepts, advertisements, packaging, weighing and checkout systems

Museum Pumping Station Caners is dedicated to Pumping Station Caners built in 1933 in the style of the Delft School. The pumping station drained the polders behind it. The museum exhibits include photographs, maps and old tools of the water board. In addition, a number of films about the past and pr

Museum de Kantfabriek is housed in the last lace producing factory in the Netherlands. The museum illustrates the old textile industry and how it laid a foundation for prosperity in North Limburg. In the Netherlands the concentration of textile industries was nowhere as high as in this region. The m

The House of Nijmegen History is the starting point for everyone who wants to know more about the history of the oldest city in the Netherlands. Everyone is welcome in the House of Nijmegen History. We take you into the history of the city and region. In fact, the House organizes exhibitions, lectu

The Shoe Quarter is much more than a museum. As a podium, workshop, study center and laboratory, the Shoe Quarter occupies a distinctive place in the cultural landscape. The 20,000 objects - including 13,000 shoes! - together form a unique collection that also truly belongs to Waalwijk, the place

The Nederlands Watermuseum is housed in the former ‘Bagijnemolen’. It is an interactive museum that covers everything related to water in the Netherlands, but also in the rest of the world. More than fifty presentations illustrate how the sewer system works, how much water the human body consists of

The Almelo City Museum is housed in two buildings. The actual museum is in a historic building, the Rectorshuis (Headmaster's Home), a former Latin school dating from 1783, now a listed monument. The smaller Heyda building accommodates the office and the museum entrance. Relevant exhibits and storie

Museum Dansant focuses primarily on dance organs. In the basement below the museum is Fairground Museum Soet & Vermaeck.

Museum ship the Buffalo is a piece of sailing maritime cultural heritage. Built in 1868, this ship first served as a ramship for the Dutch Navy, then after 28 years was rebuilt and used as a lodging and training ship in Hellevoetsluis. On board, an exhibition shows the ship's more than 150-year hist

The Bonami Spelcomputer Museum is housed in the Weighing House. It is dedicated to the history of the game console. The museum brings back memories of the first consoles. It features over ten thousand different video games, of which a large number can be played.

Leemspoor is a Narrow gauge railway on which brickyards transported their raw material a hundred years ago. The visitor can see the track or take a ride on it. At the final station, the locomotives are exhibited. The collection includes some diesel locomotives, a steam locomotive, several passenger

The fisher ambulance museum shows ambulances throughout the years have been produced by the gebr. fisher.

The Historic Shipyard C.A. Meerman is a working museum shipyard. It is the oldest shipyard in Zeeland, founded in 1763. The ship shed, the slipway and the fire pit are still in use. The saw shed is fully equipped as a museum. Among other things, old implements and tools can be admired.

"Techniek met 'n Ziel" is een museum in Neerkant met een verzameling techniek van 1900 tot heden en een vleugje nostalgie. De verzameling van "Techniek met 'n Ziel" is een collectie van de evolutie van elektrische apparatuur. Verder zijn er verschillende ruimtes, zoals een woonkamer, winkel en een k

Here you can discover the history of washing and ironing. Through various objects such as washing machines, centrifuges, wash rammers, wash boards, and ironing irons, mangles, linen presses, etc.

In Kijkduin, the foundation has made part of the Widerstandsnest 67 HL complex accessible. Approximately 130 meters of tunnel and 6 bunkers will eventually be on view. Part of the corridor system can be visited.

As you enter the station, it seems as if you have stepped back in time. At the platform a nearly 100 years old steam locomotive and its wooden carriages are waiting for you. The conductor blows his whistle, the fireman feeds his fire, and as the engine driver pulls the regulator, the train puts itse