Nederlands Openluchtmuseum is a village-sized open-air museum which primarily shows the history of The Netherlands as realistic as possible with a great collection of buildings and artefacts. Almost all of the buildings are originals, which are moved from their original location and rebuild in the museum. Think of farmhouses, working windmills, a church, shops, factories and the museum even has it’s own working beer brewery (they sell beer too).
In different seasons, the staff – in costume – demonstrate traditional skills like milling flour, forging iron with the blacksmith, cleaning the laundry, spinning and weaving flax, making cloggs and brewing.
Seasonal activities
Every season has it’s own special activities. So be sure to check before you go. It’s a good reason to come back some time. Check the activities on the website. For example, in wintertime there are ice skate rinks (with free to use skates) and the kids can bake their own piece of bread.
Openluchtmuseum with Kids
The museum is ideal to go to with kids. For all ages there are interesting demonstrations or things to do. Travel with the tram, shoot with bows, make bread or “poffertjes” (small pancakes).
Little Amsterdam
Directly at the entrance you will find Little Amsterdam. Two Canal Houses from the Jordan neighborhood from Amsterdam with the narrow alleys have been moved to the museum. Those buildings give a good representation of the working class in the 60s in Amsterdam. The Canal Houses contain a Brown Café, a Post Office, Migrant Housing. The alley shows the shacks with one-room-housing used by families with up to 10 members. In the later years those shacks were home to the strays and addicts, even up to the 90’s.
Canon van Nederland
In 2007 the exposition Canon van Nederland (Canon of the History of The Netherlands) opened in the museum. This presentation shows highlights and lows from Dutch history on the basis of historical persons, events and subjects. If you are interested in history, this might be very interesting to spend an hour or two.
Moving around
Don’t worry about long walks. Inside the museum you can travel around using the tram. Several old streetcars will bring you at the desired station. It’s an easy way to move around fast.
Business Hours
Standard business hours are from 10am – 5pm from April – Octobre. But due the seasonal activities opening hours can vary. Check the website for actual information.
Tickets and pricing
For actual pricing check the website. Buy cheaper tickets (€1.50 discount) in advance online.
Getting There
From train station Arnhem Centraal:
- Citybus 3 direction Burgers’ Zoo – extit Openluchtmuseum West. The bus stops 4 times per hour. The bus stops here 4x per hour. The bus first runs past Burgers Zoo and arrives on the way back past the Openluchtmuseum West stop (a 5-minute walk to the entrance).
- Line 8 towards Velp Hospital – exit museum Openluchtmuseum Oost. The bus stops 2x per hour on the corner of Julius Röntgenweg / Brandts Buysweg (4 min walk to the entrance).
