1. Micropia - Amsterdam
I never thought I’d keep on learning about microbiology after high school, especially in Mechanical Engineering, so I’ll have to thank my friends over at Wageningen University for dragging me along to this nice museum: Micropia! Micropia’s content spans the world in and around you: micro-organisms dominate the space. During your visit, make sure to stick around for the lab talk, which is when the scientists in the laboratorium come out and explain about certain subjects. Don’t forget to ask your burning questions about microbiology to them!
2. Pianola Museum - Amsterdam
The Pianola Museum hosts an impressive collection of pianolas, which, as I understand, are essentially self-playing pianos. It’s a small museum, filled with actual pianos and other similar instruments, around 30,000 music reels and books, and a variety of other paraphernalia. It’s worth a visit if you’re in the Jordaan area in Amsterdam, as it’s small enough to not take too much of your time but also interesting enough to keep you busy for an hour or two.
3. Kaasmuseum - Alkmaar
If you’re a certified cheese lover, then you don’t want to miss this. This museum takes you through the rich history of cheesemaking, including its craftsmanship and significance in Dutch culture. You’ll get to see actual cheese getting made, and as someone who’s helped make mozzarella at home, it was interesting to see how other kinds of cheese were made (like the famous Dutch Gouda). The best part? You get to sample some of the best cheese in the country, and also get access to their shops.
4. Madurodam - Den Haag
Strangely, this museum reminded me a bit of the Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg, which I suppose makes sense as they both encompass the same messages: to pay homage to their countries’ culture and landscapes. In the Madurodam, visitors can stroll through miniature replicas of Dutch cities and view iconic buildings, bridges, and landmarks, all crafted with pinpoint precision and accuracy. Probably one of my favourite museums I’ve ever visited, so make sure to pay the Madurodam a visit!
5. Corpus Museum - Oegstgeest, near Leiden
If you’ve ever felt like you wanted to go on a journey through the human body (starting from the other end, if you know what I mean), then this museum’s just for you. The Corpus Museum is shaped like a human body, and the exhibits are ‘levels’ where you progress from different organs onto the next, and it’s a great concept. While I personally think this museum’s aimed mostly at children, I’d still say it’s worth the trip if you go with your family or some biology-competent friends (tsk, tsk, Technical Medicine students). Overall, a very fun museum!
6. Witches’ Weigh House - Oudewater
If you don’t know what a weigh house is, boy do I have the museum just for you. It’s essentially a human-sized scale used in medieval times to weigh crops or livestock. The Witches’ Weigh House differs slightly – this particular scale was used to determine if people were witches or devils. I’m not entirely sure of the plausability, but if you’ve ever been curious about your status as a certified potionbrewer, then this is exactly the thing you’re looking for.
7. Open Air Museum – Arnhem
The Open Air Museum guides you through the everyday lives of medieval Dutch people while retelling the history and culture of the old Dutch way. The Open Air Museum in Arnhem is quite large – over 44 hectares dotted with windmills, farmhouses, and traditional Dutch buildings. My favourite part of this museum was the laundry section – surprise, surprise, there were no electric dryers in ‘ye olde days’, so you had contraptions that pounded stains until they were gone. If you’re ever interested in Dutch culture, this museum’s bound to satisfy you.
And that’s it! Granted, there are some museums that are more well known than others, but I’d still classify them as ‘niche’ because they aren’t your typical museums that are known for being super touristy. If you have a free weekend, or if you’re wanting to go on a day trip from Enschede over the summer, then museums are a great idea. Make sure you scrounge for discounts online, or get a Museumkaart!
