Tilburg’s TextielMuseum has done it again: the unique museum of textiles is bringing us another fascinating exhibit! “Is it alive?” can be seen between 14 October 2023 and 7 April 2024!

What’s this all about, you ask? The simple answer: life! But of course, there’s much more to it. Let’s check it out.

Is what alive?

Before you screech in fear, don’t worry, this isn’t some display about scary critters and crawlies — the artwork isn’t actually alive.

“Is it alive?” is shown at Tilburg’s unique TextielMuseum, which, as the name suggests, centres around the world of textiles. The exhibition showcases fascinating textile artworks which are inspired by the processes and movements of nature. 

One of the exhibit’s artists, Lonneke Gordijn from DRIFT, tells the curators that “if you look closely at how things in nature are constructed — it’s so complicated and so logical — it makes you wonder if nature is not the high-tech part in our world.”

It’s exactly this premise that’s at the heart of “Is it alive?”, which brings textiles to life with the use of fascinating modern technologies. 

The result? A unique exhibition that combines innovation, textiles, technology and art.

I’m intrigued, tell me more! 

Curious about what you can actually see during this exhibition? Let’s have a look at what awaits you.

The centrepiece of the exhibit is a piece called “I am Storm” by the artistic duo DRIFT, made up of Lonneke Gordijn and Ralph Nauta. 

READ MORE | Dutch Quirk #13: be innovative (and not be shy about it) 

This new installation is making its premiere during “Is it alive?”, and consists of some 20 larger-than-life-size stems that bounce in the imaginary wind.

On top of that, the TextielMuseum will showcase spectacular “living architecture” by Philip Beesley, interactive works by Bart Hess, and the impressive works of fashion designer Iris van Herpen, as well as Tanja Smeets.

More than art — dive into the research

The artworks displayed during the “Is it alive?” exhibit are not your average pieces of art. 

In fact, there’s plenty of scientific research that went into them, and each piece is as innovative as it is fascinating. 

READ MORE | 7 innovative Dutch projects for a sustainable future

Parts of the technique behind the “I am storm” installation, for example, are the result of intricate research conducted by the TextielMuseum’s very own textile lab. 

Similarly, Philip Beesley’s prototype of the “Poietic Veil Tilburg” was created in collaboration with the renowned TU Delft. It’s the glorious result of the collaborative research effort between the artist and students from the university. Heel impressive!

Want to learn more about this unique making-of process? Dat kan! 

Yup, “Is it alive?” not only showcases the artworks themselves but also takes visitors through their process of creation — “revealing that artists are sometimes inventors and can drive innovation”.

 Curious to see this unique art exhibition yourself? Here’s all you need to know:

We’ll see you there!

What are you most excited to see at the TextielMuseum? Tell us in the comments!

Whether you’re looking to escape the cold, want to learn about African culture, or doing research for your African Studies major — it’s time to head over to Wereldmuseum Leiden!

Why? The Leiden-based ethnology museum has unveiled “In Brilliant Light”, a spectacular new exhibit focusing on African art, culture and history.

With “In Brilliant Light”, curators have created a platform for artists from Africa and its diaspora. The space lets visitors immerse themselves in the richness of African cultures — right in the heart of Leiden.

Welkom to Wereldmuseum Leiden

Wereldmuseum Leiden, formerly known as Museum Volkenkunde, is the place to be for all things ethnology, anthropology, and world cultures. It’s definitely a must-see when you visit the city.

As the pros in all things ethnology, you can be sure that “In Brilliant Light” will be nothing short of, well, brilliant! 

Oh, and the best part? Entrance is free for children between 0 and 5 and museum card holders, and reduced for students.

African art ‘in brilliant light’

So, what exactly is “In Brilliant Light” about? Just like African art, the exhibition is diverse, rich, and culturally significant. 

The exhibit guides you through eight different sections containing breathtaking artworks that reflect on the heritage of their artists and the world around them. 

It features not only a whopping 32 artists from Africa and its diaspora, but also does a wonderful job of shedding light on both historical and contemporary events that influence African culture and society.

Themes addressed include post-colonialism, power, globalisation, change, emancipation and spirituality.

From Africa to the diaspora

The talented artists featured in “In Brilliant Light” reflect on their African homeland and their — voluntary or involuntary — movement away from it.

Their art showcases the diverse cultures, histories, and traditions that are native to the African continent and its people while simultaneously illustrating what connects them with the rest of the world. 

As a consequence of the African diaspora, we recognise common themes, influences, and even materials that spread across the artworks. 

Unique forms of artistic traditions that range from tapestry weaving to woodcarving are showcased as artists draw inspiration from their countries’ history, heritage, folklore and spiritual traditions and share them with the world.

Relating to cultural history

While “In Brilliant Light” displays contemporary art, the exhibition also reflects on the rich and sometimes very complex African cultural history.

Colonialism, which undoubtedly had a very significant influence on African culture, is a theme that is omnipresent in “In Brilliant Light”. 

One thing that many African people share, regardless of whether they are on the continent or not, is a sense of identity loss — finding themselves stuck between their strong cultural ties and their projected future. 

This is addressed in one of the exhibition’s central artworks. 

Johnson Eziefula’s “Birth of the Self” was created specifically for “In Brilliant Light” and depicts a young man standing at a crossroads, realising that, depending on the path he chooses, his life will change drastically.

Creating new perspectives 

One sign in the exhibition reads: “In the 1950s and 1960s, almost all African countries [became] independent, [and] African artists emerge[d] as important agents of change.” 

Transformation is another major theme addressed in “In Brilliant Light”, illustrating how artists use their craft to reshape history and claim their heritage through their artistic expression.

Inspiration is often found in the idea of new worlds and shared dreams for a new society. 

With this, art becomes a form of emancipation, allowing artists to develop a new cultural identity, new perspectives, and new visions in a post-colonial world.

Want to know more?

Great! You can see “In Brilliant Light” at the Wereldmuseum in Leiden until October 31, 2024. Let’s give you all the details you need:

Will you check out “In Brilliant Light”? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Tired of the museums in Amsterdam and devoured all that the museums in the other major cities have to offer? Don’t worry, the Netherlands is a small country, but Leiden has an abundance of culture and art to discover.

We’ve come up with a list of no less than 14 museums you can visit to get your brains tingling with rich history, culture, and art.

Don’t have time? Skip ahead!

• 14. Volkenkunde Museum (Museum of Ethnology)
• 13. Rijksmuseum Boerhaave
• 12. National Museum of Antiquities (Rijksmuseum van Oudheden)
• 11. Young Rembrandt Studio
• 10. Naturalis Biodiversity Center
• 9. Museum de Lakenhal — the best art museum in Leiden?
• 8. Siebold House
• 7. De Valk Windmill Museum
• 6. Stoomtrein Katwijk-Leiden
• 5. Academic Historical Museum
• 4. CORPUS
• 3. Leiden American Pilgrim Museum
• 2. The Leiden Weaver’s House
• 1. Botanical Gardens

1. Wereld Museum Leiden

Wereld Museum Leiden is super close to Leiden Centraal and is one of the National Museums of World Cultures in the Netherlands. It has objects from countries around the world, like China, Indonesia, Japan, and Korea. To get a feel of the museum, check out our video!

Feeling your curiosity rising? You better check it out yourself, Wereld Museum Leiden is massive, and you can easily spend a whole day just there.

READ MORE | Let your kids run wild this autumn break at Wereld Museum Leiden’s Animal Academy! 

2. Rijksmuseum Boerhaave

Wondering how the Netherlands contributed to the field of science and how this history of science shapes our life here? The Rijksmuseum Boerhaave should be on your list of museums to visit in the Netherlands.

Named after one of the prominent scientists of the Netherlands, Herman Boerhaave, the collection at this museum spans about five centuries and is curated in collaboration with scientists of our times. It has something for all ages.

READ MORE | The Wonders of Science! 7 Reasons to visit Museum Boerhaave in Leiden

The building itself is historically significant and a beauty to look at as well. It has been through a lot of changes since it was built in 1440.

First, it was the St. Caecilia’s Convent, then went on to be a home for the plague victims in the city and the mentally affected.

After that, it became the first academic hospital in Northern Europe as St. Caecilia’s Hospital. It was here that the museum’s name-giver taught medicine some 300 years ago.

3. National Museum of Antiquities (Rijksmuseum van Oudheden)

The National Museum of Antiquities celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2018, and it should definitely be on your list! The highlight of the museum is their permanent Egyptian Collection — which they boast to be one of the top 10 of its kind.

This collection includes the full 2,000-year-old Egyptian temple from the village of Taffeh.

READ MORE | 7 things the Dutch don’t talk about, but should

For anyone who wants cultural heritage to be returned to their countries of origin, we can rest easy when it comes to this temple.

Back in the 60s, this was one of the few temples that were at risk due to the construction of the Aswan High Dam across the Nile.

After UNESCO made an international call to save the sites at risk, the Netherlands played a role in the rescue operations. To show their gratitude, this temple was a gift from Egypt to the Dutch people.

Apart from this permanent collection, the museum has some great exhibitions about the classical world and allows you to explore the history of:

Ancient Greece, Etruria, and the Roman Empire; the only complete survey of the archaeology in the Netherlands; explore the life of the Netherlands during Roman times; the Dutch and the ancient Near East (from present-day Turkey to the Arabian Peninsula and from Lebanon to Afghanistan).

As you can see, there’s a lot to see at this museum, and it’s truly an underrated gem — not to be missed!

4. Young Rembrandt Studio

Okay so, the sun is shining, you don’t want to spend your time indoors, but you still want to do something intellectually stimulating?

Sign up for the Rembrandt Experience in Leiden. We have specially curated a route through Leiden so that you can walk in the footsteps of a young Rembrandt, and still have a day in the sun (or rain)!

READ MORE | The Rembrandt Experience: discover the life of a Young Rembrandt in Leiden

The whole of Leiden is actually kind of a museum on Rembrandt, it was his birthplace.

The exhibition on Rembrandt’s youth in Leiden can be seen at the Young Rembrandt Studio. This is where he actually learned to paint from his tutor Jacob van Swanenburgh.

Nowadays, it’s a shop with lovely Rembrandt memorabilia. This charming shop also provides a free experience that will give you a glimpse into Rembrandt’s Leiden days — in a completely mesmerising way.

5. Naturalis Biodiversity Center

Love learning more about nature? Do you want to get your little one more interested in the world around them? Want to see a T-Rex? You might want to plan a visit to the Naturalis Biodiversity Center then!

Naturalis is dedicated to keeping a record of all-natural life on Earth. They want to preserve the knowledge of biodiversity and nature for everyone to enjoy.

READ MORE | Lekker? Giant meatball from extinct woolly mammoth unveiled in Amsterdam

They conduct research to contribute to solutions “for major, global issues involving climate, living environment, food supply, and medicine”. What’s better is that they are a place for the whole family!

6. Museum de Lakenhal — the best art museum in Leiden?

The Lakenhal’s building has been around since 1640 and underwent a huge renovation and restoration in 2019. This museum shows history and fine art, housing some of the finest paintings from the Dutch Golden Age.

The collection includes “The Last Judgment” (ca. 1526/27) by Lucas van Leyden, the “Brillenverkoper” (ca. 1624) by Rembrandt van Rijn, and “Contra-Composition VII” by Theo van Doesburg.

If you want to learn more about the history of the Lakenhal, exhibition, go to their website and start planning your visit!

7. Siebold House

Looking to get a little taste of Japan here in the Netherlands? Go to the Siebold House, which has been reinstated with the support of the Japanese and Dutch governments, various Dutch and Japanese companies, and the city of Leiden.

The museum features seven different rooms, each with its own story to tell — with cultural treasures collected during the 19th century by the Bavarian physician Philip Franz von Siebold.

8. De Valk Windmill Museum

With its seven floors and 29 metres of height, the De Valk Windmill Museum in Leiden is hard to miss. De Valk Windmill is one of the last remaining windmills from the 19th century and became a museum in 1966 after the death of miller Willem van Rhijn.

This museum provides gorgeous views of the city of Leiden, so if you’re looking for great shots, this is the place to go!

9. Stoomtrein Katwijk-Leiden

Want to travel back in time? Head on over to the Stoomtrein Katwijk-Leiden (Katwijk is a beach town near Leiden). No, it doesn’t have time travel technology, but it does have a 100-year-old steam locomotive waiting for you!

It’s not a high-speed train like the ones we’re used to. It’s an old-fashioned steam train for you to enjoy — just like maybe your grandparents did.

So if you want to know how this works, this museum is the place for you. It’s a museum where you can smell, watch, and touch to see how everything works. It’s kid-friendly, so you can take the whole family there!

10. Academic Historical Museum

This historical museum is housed in the Academy building of Leiden University. Its collection is linked to this building and the history of Leiden University, where it has a plethora of items to browse through.

The rich history of the university and student life is displayed for everyone to enjoy.

11. CORPUS

Ever wondered how the human body works? Or want to get your kids interested in biology or give them a gentle nudge towards the natural sciences? Then the CORPUS Experience might just be the perfect place for you.

You can take a “journey through the human body” in just 55 minutes, with a guided audio tour which is available in eight languages.

A visit here usually takes two and a half hours, but be sure to reserve a spot on one of the tours because they leave at specific times.

You will go through the journey in groups of 16, and it is recommended to arrive 20 minutes before your chosen time.

12. Leiden American Pilgrim Museum

This beautiful house was built around 1365-1370 and tells us the story of how the Pilgrims founded New England and their time living in Leiden. You’ll get to see how they used to live and important events through a collection of 16th and 17th-century maps.

You will be able to see what Pilgrim life in Leiden looked like, how the children studied and played, and so much more! Want to know more about their history? Pay this place a visit!

13. The Leiden Weaver’s House

You may not see this museum immediately because it doesn’t seem like your run-of-the-mill house on an ordinary street, but you have to remember that the house itself is the museum exhibit.

The Leiden Weaver’s house has an interesting history that reflects the people of Leiden’s passion for preserving their neighbourhoods.

This museum was founded by the Het Kleine Leidse Woonhuis foundation in 1976, an initiative by the citizens to stop “large scale interventions in the impoverished part of the city.”

READ MORE | 13 unmissable World Heritage Sites in the Netherlands to visit

This house was going to be demolished to make way for roads, but thanks to this initiative, it was preserved.

It doesn’t have any permanent exhibitions, but different temporary exhibitions. Maybe not what you would expect from a museum, but definitely a spot you don’t want to miss out on.

14. Botanical Gardens

Did you know that the city of Leiden is home to one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world? The University of Leiden was responsible for planting the first seeds in this historical garden.

READ MORE | 17 unforgettable things to do in Leiden in 2023

It really is a sight for sore eyes! Take a relaxing afternoon out and stroll through the gardens.

Will you be visiting one of these museums in Leiden? Or have we missed out on anything? Tell us in the comments below!

Feature Image: Kees Hummel/Leiden Marketing
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in May 2019, and was fully updated in September 2023 for your reading pleasure. 

Tilburg has it all: contemporary art museums, nature museums, and textile museums! A day trip to Tilburg can easily be filled up with history and wonderful art.

So, you’ve found yourself in this southern bustling city, full of engaging and unique museums. Now you’re wondering — where to go?

Well, you’re in geluk because we have the lowdown on a select few of the best museums in Tilburg.

1. De Pont Museum

De Pont Museum in Tilburg is a contemporary art hub.

The museum is built into a former will-spinning mill — a cool place to house contemporary art, creating a unique atmosphere and environment to browse and enjoy.

Besides a ton of exhibits, what also really stands out at De Pont is the lovely interior of the museum. It’s a combination of minimalism and design that really does the trick.

Need a break? Grab a seat in the library or a cosy latté in the café! 

On Thursday evenings, entrance to De Pont Museum is completely free after 5 PM!

2. PARK

PARK is a centre for contemporary art that was established by seven artists living in Tilburg. 

It is a platform for contemporary visual art — and if that sounds a bit vague to you, welcome to the contemporary art world! It has an educational programme for visitors, though, so never fear. 

It also offers workshops and special evenings where you can get involved in the contemporary art world in a more immediate way.

It has played host to some really cool exhibitions at the intersection of visual and performance art, and continues to collaborate with local and international artists to bring the contemporary art world to Tilburg. 

It usually hosts an artist for a summer residency, who will present lectures and workshops for the public.

3. Doloris

Doloris is officially not a museum, but nonetheless, another awesome artsy and inspiring spot in Tilburg that offers you a fully immersive experience.

You can enter the Meta Maze, a collection of over 40 rooms of art. The catch? The art is surreal and immersive, designed to make you excited and also a little disorientated. Wandering through the maze, you’ll become completely absorbed by the art. 

After all that art, you’ll need some sustenance for your stomach, which Doloris can provide incredibly well. 

They have a rooftop filled with street food from all over the world, and, of course, some delicious drinks. Your final taste of Tilburg’s art at Doloris will be gazing at the skyline while munching on something tasty on the rooftop.

4. The TextielMuseum

The TextielMuseum in Tilburg offers a unique opportunity to see just how important textile and textile making was throughout Tilburg’s history. You can still see the working machines today, weaving and making fabrics! 

5. Natuurmuseum Brabant in Tilburg

Natuurmuseum Brabant has been around since 1935, with an aim to encourage people to appreciate all things natural!

From huge mammoths in the Ice Age exhibition to wolves in the Real Wolf exhibition, or even becoming a detective in the OO – ZONE, where you will find over 2000 objects in an accessible museum depot, there is enough to fill up an entire day.

For the youngest visitors, there are the exhibitions BOS and Frog & Friends, where they can visit Frog’s house and play various games.

Natuurmuseum Brabant is, first and foremost, a family-friendly museum about the lives of plants and animals, and it does a great job of explaining the awesome history of nature to you and your little ones.

Behold this life-size model of the woolly mammoth, at least three and a half meters high and six meters long. The model’s designers put the mammoth together on the spot because of its epic size. 

While you’re there, you really can’t miss the giant whale skeleton.  

This skeleton is 15 meters long and weighs over 1000 kilos. The skeleton is one of three sperm whales which washed ashore in Scheveningen in 1995, and the size of it is mind-boggling.

Tilburg is a lovely city and one that deserves way more attention than it usually gets! Not only does it have epic museums on offer, but there is so much else to do in Tilburg. 

Have you been to any of these museums in Tilburg? Let us know in the comments below!

^{Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in December 2018 but was updated for your reading pleasure in June 2023.} 

The largest city in North Brabant, Eindhoven, is a curious mix of typical Dutch atmosphere and a high level of industry.

To quote Humphrey Bogart in “Casablanca” and adapt it a little, “I came (back) to the Netherlands for the waters.” Then I ended up in Eindhoven and started to hear from all of my acquaintances “Waters? What waters? We’re in Eindhoven.” Bummer, right?

Yet in the nine months I’ve been living here, I’ve discovered that the Netherlands’ city of technology and innovation has more to offer than I had initially thought. Here are some of the best experiences.

1. Go for a run in the Stadswandelpark

Even if running isn’t your thing (no matter what time of day it is), the beautiful trees you’ll see here will inspire you to at least take a walk.

Stadswandelpark is conveniently located on the edge of Eindhoven city centre (12 minutes by bike), so if you’re in Eindhoven, there’s really no excuse not to go.

Here you can also find the Radio Monument, a eulogy to the first wireless radio connection to the Dutch East Indies which took place on March 11, 1927 — super cutting edge for its time.

The Calling Lady, as it is more commonly known, also reminds us of the early radio transmission of a speech by Queen Wilhelmina in 1945 from the Philips Research Laboratories (now known as NatLab).

2. Walk through the online doors of Philips Museum

The coronavirus crisis has certainly changed the way we do certain things — for better or for worse. Picture this, you’re at home, but you’re not really in the work mood.

So what about looking at other people’s work? You can now tour the Philips Museum online! We don’t know about you, but we would never have thought of doing that before.

Launch your online journey by reading the Philips history (you can zoom in and out), then start the museum tour. What is there to see, you might ask? Well, everything!

From the oldest existing Philips carbon-filament lamps to the energy-saving lamp, the first X-ray lamp, the first X-ray machine, the portable radio/cassette player, and the “ping-pong for one” gadget from 1996.

Go further and you will see old devices, instruments, and tools with which the progress of today has been made. They are put together in a recreated room where once upon a time, everything began.

3. Enjoy some music at Muziekgebouw Eindhoven

If you (like us) are tired of Spotify, you can enjoy music from the Muziekgebouw Eindhoven. Fancy some ambient music while you work from home, or some tunes to get you going while you’re working out? In the mood to relax or party?

The Muziekgebouw Eindhoven has you covered. You can choose between classical, pop, and jazz — and they even have a kids section.

4. Visit Van Abbemuseum

The best thing about an online-oriented world is that you can do online activities whenever you feel like it — goodbye to weeks of planning and trying to find a date that works for you and all your friends.

You know what this means, don’t you? Another break, another museum! Enjoy the Van Abbemuseum from the comfort of your home. Or even better, when you have some free time on the weekend, just go check out the museum’s exhibitions in person!

5. Unwind after work at Parktheater

Fancy enjoying theatre shows directly from your couch AND learning a bit of Dutch? Parktheather Eindhoven has prepared amazing free (Dutch) performances.

To spread the love of theatre, Parktheather also makes a recommendation for shows you can watch on Netflix or Videoland. They’re all in Dutch though — perhaps a secret conspiracy to help internationals learn this tricky language?

Pretty nice, right? Now it’s time to make up for the time spent on the work chair and/or the couch and get out for some fresh air. Hop onto your bike (or walk, if that’s your thing) and discover the green Eindhoven.

6. Enjoy a sunset in Wandelpark Eckart

Nature is the most suitable remedy for all ills. Wandelpark Eckart, consisting of coniferous forest, was the first beautiful place I discovered in Eindhoven and it has remained my dearest one. It’s only 15 minutes away by bike from Eindhoven Centraal train station.

One thing that makes it different from the rest is the Karpendonkse Plas, a large lake that has an island in the middle. Wandelpark Eckart is perfect for enjoying a picnic with your family or friends.

7. Set up your tent in Recreatieplas Hanevoet

Thinking about what to do over the weekend? This park isn’t exactly in Eindhoven, but it’s still pretty close — 20 minutes by bike from Eindhoven Centraal station. Recreatieplas is, duh!, perfect for recreation.

You can set up your tent and start fishing, teach your kids how to ride a bike, or walk your pets. Be sure to take care of your dogs, and not to get into a fight with the ducks you’re sure to find in the lake. It’s also a perfect place to jog and play badminton.

Eindhoven is about technology and innovation and it might lack the typical Dutch canals, but it can still amaze you.

So after watching a theatre performance online or visiting a museum — online or in-person — grab a bike and your family or friends and explore all of Eindhoven’s best outdoor spots.

What are your favourite things to do in Eindhoven? Did we leave anything out? Tell us in the comments below!

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in May 2020, and was fully updated in May 2022 for your reading pleasure.

Haarlem, for its size, has a fair amount of museums to browse, and after months of museums being forced to close, we’re sure that you’re dancing in your seat to soak up some culture yet again.

If you haven’t explored the stunning city of Haarlem yet, it may be just the place for you to scratch that museum itch — after all, there are stacks of great museums that are filled with collections for you to visit!

Here are 16 (yes, that’s what we could narrow it down to!) that are some of the best.

1. The Teylers Museum

Even if you visit the Teylers Museum only to admire its architecture, it will be well worth it.

This museum is the oldest in the Netherlands, built for purpose, and has been open continuously since 1784 to the public, (bar of course during the COVID-19 lockdown). The oldest part, The Oval Room, was built adjoining the Foundation House; home to the wealthy silk merchant, Pieter Teyler, the original benefactor of the museum. He believed in the 18th-century enlightenment ideal that “knowledge is power” and this ‘museum of wonder,’ as its logline proclaims, certainly lives up to it. It offers diverse collections of art and science. It’s almost as if one walks through a real-life encyclopaedia.

My favourite exhibition displays drawings of Michelangelo and Rembrandt.  Of course, for preservation reasons, the actual pictures are not always on display but represented with replicas.

The museum expanded over the years to include an instrument room, fossil rooms, entrance hall, picture gallery, exhibition gallery, print room, and library.  The beautifully atmospheric library, built in 1885, can only be visited by appointment or during a guided tour. It is unique in that it has the most extensive collection of 18th and 19th-century botany, zoology, and earth sciences literature.

A bright and airy café offers delicious refreshments for the parched reveller.

Spaarne 16, 2011 CH, Haarlem

2. Museum Haarlem

Its unassuming exterior, blending perfectly into the historic street, reveals nothing about the treasures to be found inside. The Museum of Haarlem creatively tells the story of the city’s history through photography, art, films, and interactive exhibitions.

We were transported back in time as my son tried on the uniforms of orphans, lay on a small, hard bed, and played guess-the-content in the drawers, using our five senses.

Besides the permanent exhibition, the museum regularly highlights the work of local artists and city marvels in temporary exhibitions. The building dates back to 1697 when it housed the St. Elisabeth Gasthuis or hospital.

Groot Heiligland 47, 2011 EP, Haarlem

3. Architectuur- en Bouwhistorisch Centrum Haarlem (ABC)

Adjoining the Museum of Haarlem is a fascinating place to learn about all things architecture related, especially in Haarlem and its surrounds.

I have to be honest, though, with a five-year-old in tow, we usually visit with the sole purpose of building LEGO structures. Across two rooms, and two large tables, boxes filled with something like 60.000 LEGO blocks are available for your creations; your imagination is the only limit.

Groot Heiligland 47, 2011 EP, Haarlem

4. Frans Hals Musem: Hof and Hal

Across from Museum Haarlem and ABC, you step into an art world where old meets new. This art gallery museum has two locations, Hof and Hal, seven minutes walk apart.

It mixes contemporary and historical works, in a way, which make you appreciate art with a refreshed perspective. Tickets allow you entry to both locations.

There is a lively café, serving delicious lunches, tea, coffee, and even alcoholic tipples at the Hof location, which is open to museum visitor and non-visitor alike.

Hof: Groot Heiligland 62, 2011 EP, Haarlem
Hal:  Grote Markt 16, 2011 RD, Haarlem

5. Archeological Museum Haarlem

If you want to delve even deeper into the history of Haarlem, 6000 years to be exact, then pop next door (to the Frans Hals Hal) and climb underground into the Archeological Museum.

It is a little gem with a big heart, playfully teaching children history with mock excavations, ‘artefact’ puzzles, and castle construction activities. Artefacts from various archaeological excavations are displayed with fascinating, historical facts.

Cornelius, the medieval Haarlemmer, is brought back to life with a reconstruction. His skeleton, which is the centrepiece of the museum, was excavated at the Botermarkt.

Entry is free!

Grote Markt 18K, 2011 RD Haarlem, Haarlem

6. De Vishal

Still on the Grote Markt, is De Vishal (fish market).  It was rebuilt in 1769 as a fish market to replace the one from 1603.  It functioned as a covered market selling fish till just after World War II, after which it was transformed into an art exhibition space.

Today, it is a freely accessible exhibition space for contemporary visual art and design. There are about ten exhibits a year, showcasing the work of local and other Dutch artists as well as international artists.

Grote Markt 20 2011 RD, Haarlem

7. Anno Haarlem

Next to the visitors’ centre, on the Grote Markt, you can explore the 14th-century cellars of the city hall and delve further into the history of Haarlem.

Grote Markt 2 2011 RD, Haarlem

8. De Grote or St. Bavo Kerk

The centuries-old Grote or St. Bavo Kerk, overlooking the Grote Markt, is not a museum in the strictest sense, as it is still an active church with Sunday services, but its beautiful architecture is steeped in history.

Artists often exhibit in its magnificent hall, and organ concerts are mesmerising. The magnificent Müller organ dates back to 1738 with pipes almost 11 metres in length.

Grote Markt 22 2011 RD, Haarlem

9. Koepelkatedraal Haarlem

One cannot chat about the previous beauty without mentioning the other grand old dame of Haarlem, the dome cathedral. It is unique and considered as one of five of the most important churches in the world, built between 1850 and 1950; the others being the Sagrada Familia, the Sacré-Coeur, the Westminster Cathedral, and the Basiliek van Koekelberg.

It has 12 towers, with its dome reaching an impressive 65m high. Apart from admiring the art, the architecture and the organs, one can also climb the spiral steps up the towers for a magnificent view across the whole city.

Leidsevaart 146 2014 HE, Haarlem

10. Corrie Ten Boomhuis

Leaving Grote Markt, walking towards Haarlem Station, you will pass the Corrie Ten Boom House.

There is often a queue around the time a tour starts, and with good reason. Built around 1600, it is a living memorial to the bravery and altruistic behaviour of Corrie, her sister, Betsie, and their father Casper Ten Boom.

Their home was a refuge;  they saved countless Jewish people and refugees hunted by the Nazis, during the Second World War.  During the tour, knowledgeable guides enlighten you with the Ten Boom family history: walking through their home and seeing their photographs and possessions.

The traumatic reality of their history becomes painfully real when you climb into the cramped hiding place in Corrie’s bedroom.

Barteljorisstraat 2011 RA, Haarlem

11. Museum van de Geest | Dolhuys in Haarlem

About five minutes walk from the Haarlem Station is Museum van de Geest, Dolhuys in Haarlem, a museum dedicated to mental health.

I have yet to visit this museum of the mind but have been told, “het is de leukste museum van Haarlem“, which translates as “the best museum of Haarlem.” Between major renovations and coronavirus measures, it was closed for more than a year. Given that the building is 700 years old, a major renovation was well overdue.

This medieval building used to be referred to, incorrectly and insensitively, as the “lepers-, plague-, and madhouse,” keeping people considered to be the outliers of ‘normal’ society outside the city walls.

Visitors can see one of only a few isolation chambers still existing in Europe, to reflect what it must have been like to be locked in such a cold and dark place.  Exhibitions allow you to peek inside the minds of brilliant and celebrated artists, writers, and scientists, some of whom lived with a disability or mental illness.

The current museum values people’s uniqueness and the beauty of our minds. It encourages the visitor to question the concept of ‘normality.’

Schotersingel 2 2021 GE, Haarlem

12. Molen de Adriaan

Windmill Adriaan is a loved icon on the Haarlem skyline with a colourful history.

It was originally built in 1778, by businessman Adriaan De Boois, on the ancient defence tower (i.e., Goë Vrouwtoren) on the banks of the Spaarne. It changed hands frequently.  In its lifetime it crushed stone, milled grain and tobacco, and was both a wind and a steam mill.

Sadly, on April 23, 1932, it burned to the ground; the cause a mystery forever. Although the city pledged to rebuild it, it was 70 years before the newly-built Windmill Adriaan opened its doors as a demonstrative mill museum on the 23rd of April 2002. Adriaan is quintessential Dutch, as you can only visit him by appointment (a.k.a reserving a ticket online).

Papentorenvest 1-A 2011 AV, Haarlem

13. Draaiorgel Museum

The barrel organ museum is only open on Sundays from midday. If you find this 140-year musical Dutch tradition charming, it is well worth a visit. The barrel organ is part of a street music culture unique to the Netherlands, and the oldest instrument in the museum dates back to 1900.

Kuppersweg 3 2013 EA, Haarlem

14. NZH Vervoer Museum

Another museum only open on Saturdays is the transport museum. Its primary collection of  four trams (oldest dates back to 1896) and 11 buses will intrigue young and old.

A.Hofmanweg 35 2031 BH, Haarlem

15. Sterrenwacht Copernicus

The observatory opens its doors to the public every Friday night (except during summer) from 20:00 to 23:00. It also opens on the first Saturday of each month between 13:00 and 16:00. During your visit, you can observe various celestial bodies, such as planets, nebulae, and globular clusters.

Entry is free, and you need to reserve a space online. Be warned, these observatory nights are so popular that spaces are booked out months in advance.

Zeeweg 15, 2051 EB Haarlem (Overveen)

16. Noord-Hollands Archief (Janskerk)

Here, you will find a collection of documents, which could cover the distance of more than 45 kilometres archiving the history of Noord-Holland, Kennemerland, and Amstel-and-Meerlanden. It is fitting that the archives are housed inside the Janskerk, which is the oldest church of its kind preserved in its original form.  It was built in 1318!

Jansstraat 40 2011 RX & Kleine Houtweg 182012 CH, Haarlem

Using this list of museums, I hope it is easy to plan a great day out in Haarlem.

Will you be paying any of these museums a visit soon? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!

Feature Image: Nikon-2110/Pixabay

The Netherlands is a country known for its cheese, clogs and tulips: but it is also an industrial giant. The port of Rotterdam is the centre of industry in the Netherlands, and we were itching to have a look at this under-covered side of the Netherlands, and we hope you too, so jump on board and buckle up as we visit FutureLand and explore the titanic port of Rotterdam!

We had the chance to visit FutureLand, the information centre on the Rotterdam Port, a few weeks ago. Now, an information centre might not be something that immediately screams “very exciting” to you, but we swear to you that FutureLand is way more than an information centre. It’s a museum, a boat tour, and potentially also a bus tour all wrapped into one. It’s also really, really cool as we like big, very big, ships and facilities.

To be honest, I’m not someone who knows a lot about industry: the closest I come to engineering is using tape to make my laptop charger last just that bit longer. But going to FutureLand is super enjoyable for everyone, whether you’re a shipping geek or a newbie like myself.

What is FutureLand?

If you haven’t heard about FutureLand yet, here’s the low-down. FutureLand is based on the Maasvlakte 2, the newest development at the Rotterdam port, which was reclaimed from the sea around 2010. It’s an interactive place where you can learn about the history of the Rotterdam port, as well as its current role in the economy of the Netherlands.

The Rotterdam port is the biggest and most modern sea port in Europe, and the tenth busiest port in the world, and the busiest in Europe. It plays a crucial role in the Dutch economy, and indeed in the world. It also used to be the biggest port in the world. So yes, it’s massive and there’s a lot going on – and you just don’t get a sense of that when you visit Rotterdam normally.

How do you get to FutureLand?

So, how can you get to FutureLand? We went by car, and the drive was really pleasant, taking us through the industrial hub of the Netherlands. That doesn’t sound like a particularly scenic route, we will admit, but it was super interesting to see.

If you don’t have a car, you can get to FutureLand in a couple of different ways. You can head there from the centre of Rotterdam on an organised bus tour or a boat tour by Spido.

Another way to get to FutureLand is to bike to Hoek van Holland and then get the Fast Ferry over to Maasvlakte 2. That’s the perfect option if you can’t drive, or if you’re looking for a more adventurous way to get to the port (tag us if you do!)

The boat tour: a massive experience

We’re not people who pick favourites, but if you forced us, we would definitely pick this boat tour as our favourite part of the FutureLand experience. Our boat trip was 1.5 hours long, but there’s also an hour-long version. The tour takes you around the port, bringing you past some absolutely massive ships.

The boat has an enclosed downstairs and an exposed upstairs area, so depending on the weather you can either stay cozy inside or sit decadently in the sun. We had a wonderful sunny day, but it’s definitely worth bringing a windbreaker with you on the boat tour, as it can get pretty nippy out on the water.

We were very lucky with the day we chose to do our trip, as the biggest ship in the world was docked at the port. It’s hard to describe how awe-inspiring it was to see such an enormous vessel.

Then we passed along the port, and saw lots of cargo ships being loaded and unloaded along the docks. These, too, were just incomprehensibly big. Some of them, like the blue ship below, can only be fully loaded in three ports in the world- of which Rotterdam port is one. That’s a major reason why Rotterdam port attracts so many cargo ships from around the world: in Europe, it’s often the only one that can accommodate the bigger ships.

There’s also another reason why a visit is interesting, especially if you want to bring your kids. Like the story about the milk coming from the cow, us too, and especially a younger generation has no exact image of how the stuff you’re reading this article on has arrived in your hands. Seeing all those containers being shipped and the gigantic scale of the operation really makes you conscious of the trip your stuff makes.

It’s also fricking awesome seeing containers being handled:

“From sea to innovative port”

After our boat tour, we had a chance to explore the museum of FutureLand. You might not necessarily expect a port to have a museum- at least that’s not the association we had- but FutureLand’s museum is excellent. It’s really interactive, and they’ve managed to maintain that spirit despite the coronavirus regulations.

One of our favourite parts of the museum was the bird’s eye view photos of how the port has changed over time. It was really fascinating to see how the port has grown from literally nothing to the powerful economic hub it is now. Seeing the huge changes that humans had made to the shape of the land and the port itself was awe-inspiring. There were models showing how the port was constructed, and even an interactive game you could play to construct your own sea wall, which basically qualified us as full-blown engineers.

FutureLand also regularly puts on really cool activities: both for children and school tours. One awesome example of this is their fossil tours, where a guide will take the participants (children and parents welcome alike) onto the Maasvlakte beach to look for fossils. You’ll also learn lots about the archeological and paleontological background of the site.

We also got to learn lots about all the different jobs that go into making a port run smoothly, which was super interesting. Rotterdam port employs tens of thousands people, from crane operators to engineers to tour guides. It adds €45.6 billion, directly and indirectly, to the Dutch economy every year. If you’ve ever wondered what port job we DutchReviewers suit best, we even have the answer to that existential question for you. After taking an interactive quiz, it was decided by the port gods that we suit the position of Crew Member best.

You don’t necessarily come to an industrial area expecting to learn about prehistory, but that is exactly what we got to learn about at FutureLand. Did you know, for example, that between 250,000 and 1.6 million years ago, woolly mammoths lived where the Rotterdam port is now? Even more unbelievable: between 22,500 and 750,000 years ago, Straight Tusked Elephants lived in the Netherlands. Their tusks were 2.5m long, and their shoulder height was 7.5m. There was a whole section of the museum devoted to these prehistoric animals. For each animal that was talked about in this section, at least some fossilised remains had been found where the port was built.

The future of the Rotterdam port

After so much development in recent years, where is the Rotterdam port going in the future? And what can FutureLand tell us about it?

First of all: sustainability. The most striking thing you see, upon pulling up to FutureLand, is a gigantic wind turbine. It’s the most powerful wind turbine in the world, creating enough electricity to power 16,000 homes per year. Although this particular wind turbine is a bit special, it’s certainly not alone in the port. There are lots wind turbines throughout the Rotterdam port, harnessing all that strong sea wind to create green energy. They create about 200 MW of energy, which equals 10% of the Netherlands’ total wind energy capacity.

The port is also becoming more and more digital. On our boat tour of the port, we learned about how the cranes are operated. Most of the cranes you see lifting containers on and off of the ships are not actually operated by someone inside them. If you look closely, you’ll see that there’s often no one sitting in the control tower of the cranes- it’s now done mostly remotely.

And then there’s the question dearest to all Dutchies’ hearts: reclaiming land from the sea. As we’ve already mentioned, the piece of land that FutureLand sits on is called Maasvlakte 2, and was reclaimed from the sea over a five year period. Yet more development has taken place over the past years at the Rotterdam Port, including the deepening of the Nieuwe Waterweg, to allow more ships to pass through.

So, would we recommend going to FutureLand?

I think the answer is pretty clear, but just in case: yes, absolutely we would! The boat tour is an absolute must, if you end up going yourself. The museum will teach you about the history of the port, as far back as when woolly mammoths roamed the plains of Rotterdam. And we also found it fascinating to learn about the current and future developments that the port is going through. If you were wondering about how you can best access the tour and museum in English, then rest assured: there are audio tours for both, so you can chill out and watch the ships go by in whichever language you’re more comfortable in.

If your image of the Netherlands is of stroopwafels and pepernoten, then you’re not exactly wrong. But the Netherlands is also what you can see at FutureLand: a powerhouse of industry and innovation, a world leader in everything from sustainability to the sheer size of the ships that can enter the port.

So if you want to explore a different side of the Netherlands, then get yourself over to FutureLand. You won’t regret it.

Have you ever been to the port of Rotterdam? Let us know in the comments below.

Feature Image: Ailish Lalor/Supplied. 

We’ve proudly teamed up with Futureland to bring you this review

Have you visited the Natuurmuseum Brabant yet? Tilburg is filled with gems and sights to see, so if you ever find yourself in the city, why not visit some of its museums?

One of our favourites is the Natuurmuseum Brabant, a favourite for all fans of nature. So get your family and kids, and embark on a journey into the natural world and its history.

What is the Natuurmuseum Brabant in Tilburg all about?

Natuurmuseum Brabant has been around since 1935 and aims to encourage people to appreciate and learn about nature. The museum showcases a variety of different exhibitions which have been bringing visitors back to the museum for many years. It’s also the perfect place for children and the whole family, young and old.

Natuurmuseum Brabant is first and foremost a family-friendly museum about the lives of plants and animals, and it does a great job of explaining the awesome history of nature to you and your little ones to gain a better understanding of the natural world around us.

What does that come down to? Observe wolves in the Real Wolf exhibition or become a detective in the OO – ZONE, where you will find over 2000 objects in an accessible museum depot. For the youngest visitors, there are the exhibitions BOS and Frog & Friends where they can visit Frog’s house and play a variety of games. The youngsters can also ‘hunt’ a virtual woolly mammoth and learn about hunting tactics. Afterwards, they can rest in a skin tent and relax around a makeshift ‘homemade’ fire.

What do you really need to see at Natuurmuseum Brabant in Tilburg?

Two exhibits at the nature museum are not to be missed and would draw millions of visitors if this excellent museum was located in Amsterdam.

First, and you can’t miss it, is the giant whale skeleton. This skeleton (15 meters long, 1000 kilos heavy) comes from one of the three sperm whales which washed ashore in Scheveningen in 1995. The size is mindboggling for young and old!

The other one is equally gigantic:

Behold this life-size model of the woolly mammoth, at least three-and-a-half meters high and six meters long. The designers who made the model put the mammoth together on the spot because of its epic size. The woolly mammoth is one of the most famous ice-age animals and the best known of all mammals from the Pleistocene.

The Ice Age exhibit of the Natuurmuseum Brabant in Tilburg is surely worth a visit

Besides the model of the woolly mammoth, the Ice Age exhibit contains a lot of interesting artefacts of this bygone age. You can find a sabre-toothed tiger, cave lions, wolves, and other fossilized animals.

One of the showcases is a Neantherdal called Noezal, whom you can visit in his cave. Neantherdals used to be seen as little more than monkeys, but discoveries have revealed that this genetic cousin of ours was much more similar to us than initially thought, and this exhibit demonstrates exactly that. You can take a look at Noezal’s toolbox to see what he was using to survive in the wild, as well as his eating menu. It wasn’t a Michelin restaurant, but it was fair work.

Learn more about dinosaurs at the “early birds, those dinos” exhibition in the Natuurmuseum Brabant

Do you sometimes look at a chicken walking only to be struck by the fact that you are looking at this dumbed-down version of a Tyrannosaurus Rex? Well then, this exhibition is just for you.

The exhibit is about the family of theropods and how they slowly, over millions of years, evolved into birds. You’ll see skeletons and eggs, and there are plenty of assignments to do as well. This exhibit is well-suited for children, and there are assignments for youngsters aged four to seven, as well as children over eight years old. This is also the first exhibit of the museum which is entirely bilingual, with English provided, so go give it a look!

Not one for indoors? Check out a nature site in Tilburg!

Perhaps you want to experience some outdoor nature, rather than visiting a nature museum. Tilburg has plenty of these awesome nature sites to offer, so here’s a great example for all of you nature aficionados.

“Wandelbos”

Wandelbos is a picturesque forest, located halfway between Tilburg and Reeshof. You can go biking there, or just for a lovely stroll through the many hiking paths. There are many places to lay out a gezellige picnic with your friends, and in general, it’s an ideal location to go with your family and with children.

For the little ones, there’s even a petting zoo, so go out there with your loved ones and pet some animals!

For more places all nature-related in Tilburg, check out our article on the nature in Tilburg.

Or check out our friends at Ticket to Tilburg for more of those inspiring nature tips!

Have you already been to the Natuurmuseum Brabant in Tilburg? What was your favorite exhibit? Let us know in the comments.

 Feature Image: Jou Brabant, Mijn Brabant/Natuurmuseum Tilburg

Today we’re talking another fabulous Tilburg museum: the TextielMuseum. We’ve already covered some killer museums in this lovely Dutch city, but today we’re going to dig a little deeper into one of Tilburg’s coolest.

You probably don’t think much about textiles in daily life, but you’re surrounded by them every day. Those clothes you’re wearing? Textiles. That carpet you’re walking on? Textiles. The sheets you snuggle down into every night on your way to dreamland? They’re textiles too!

Even though we’re surrounded by textiles, we’re pretty bloody clueless about them. If you told me the only chance to keep my grandmother alive was to sit at a loom and make her a blanket, well, sorry Grandma.

But this isn’t some boring museum where you’ll stare at carpet fibres under some glass. No, what makes the TextielMuseum ultra-special is that it’s a working museum. They have a whole space where visitors can watch designers, artists and architects work hard on their new products. Just try and bottle some of that creativity that is zinging through the air!

What does Tilburg have to do with textiles?

We’re glad you asked! Textiles are a very important part of Tilburg’s history because the city was originally the wool capital of the Netherlands – quite a title! Poor farmers decided instead of selling the wool from their sheep, they would weave it instead—making Tilburg world-famous in the process.

What can you find here?

As you enter the doors of the impressive building, you’ll find yourself split between two worlds: will you be drawn towards the museum space, home to over 15,000 objects from the nineteenth century onwards? Or will the 11000 square metres of TextielLab grab you first, entrancing you with designers, artists and architects hard at work? Make sure you leave enough time for both because you do not want to miss out!

Let’s break these options down:

The TextielMuseum

Start your visit by exploring the learning a little about the history of textiles. The permanent exhibition is a great place to start! At ‘The Woollen Blanket Factory 1900-1940‘ you can go back in time to when Dutch textile history was at its prime. Even better, you’ll be learning about it in a building that housed a former 1860s wool factory!

You’ll be transported to the hubbub of a working day, with the thumping noise of a steam engine powering the machines, large bales of crude wool waiting to be weighed, and the smell of softener in the air!

At the end you’ll get to see the glorious finished product of soft wool blankets, but please try to restrain yourself from diving in and wrapping yourself up like a burrito.

Apart from the permanent exhibition, the Textielmuseum’s calendar is chock-full of temporary exhibits on all the textile and design-related topics you can imagine! In the past, they’ve featured everything from haute couture, like Chanel, to contemporary Dutch design.

TextielLab

You can’t miss the pride of the museum, because it’s located bang in the middle. The TextielLab is a textile powerhouse, a unique knowledge centre dedicated to its craft. Delve into the kitchen of the makers, witness three looms and four knitting machines at work, and check out the amazing tech that is used!

Did you know you can create a weaving pattern on a computer then tell a machine to make it for you? Well kids, the future is now! The experts at the TextielLab assist artists and makers from all over to make their dreams a reality. They experiment with colour vibrancy and fabric strength to make works of art and function for all over the globe.

You’ll even find some things you’ve never heard of! What is passementerie? We didn’t know, but we do now! What do lasers have to do with textiles? A lot, as it turns out! The entire production area is open to museum-goers to watch the masters and artists from around the world hard at work.

Sign me up! What do I need to know to visit?

Here’s some text on how to go see the textiles.

How much are tickets for the TextielMuseum?

You can buy tickets at the museum, or online.

What else is there to see?

Never forget one of the best parts of any museum: the gift shop, or in this case the Textielshop. If you’re a design fan this is a must for unique items and curated gifts.

Once you’re done, the fun doesn’t have to stop. Pop down the road to the LocHal, an incredible Tilburg institution that was awarded World Building of the Year in 2019. It’s a reclaimed warehouse turned into the most stunning cultural centre and library, and also home to one of the TextielMuseums largest projects: giant curtains made of almost three kilometres of fabric.

We bloody love Tilburg and maintain that it’s one of the best and most undiscovered places in the Netherlands. Check out the website of our friends at Ticket to Tilburg for more of those pro-fresh tips to Tilburg! They also have a super cool blog about cultural things to do in Tilburg, from food to art.

Have you visited the TextielMuseum? What did you think? Let us know in the comments below!

Feature Image: Josefina Eikenaar/TextielMuseum

I have lived in India for most of my life, bar the last three and a half years. Of these, three years were all spent in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Imagine my excitement when I found out that my recent visit to Mumbai coincided with a special exhibition called India and the Netherlands in the Age of Rembrandt being held at one of the main museums of the city.

The exhibition is held at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS for short because it’s nearly impossible to say that in one breath) until December 16. It is jointly curated by both the CSMVS and the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Having a total of 22 pieces (12 objects from the Rijksmuseum and 10 objects from CSMVS), this exhibition is “celebrating 400 years of cultural heritage between India and the Netherlands” as well as to commemorate the 350th death anniversary of Rembrandt van Rijn.

So how did these two countries influence each other and what the hell does Rembrandt have to do with India? I was wondering the same things, so I ventured into the museum’s special exhibits section on the first floor to satiate my curiosity.

Visiting the India and the Netherlands in the Age of Rembrandt exhibit in Mumbai

Did Rembrandt ever visit India? Sadly, not. He never touched soil on the subcontinent but he did come into contact with Indian miniature paintings. They were a prominent form of art during the 17th century when the Mughals ruled most of India. During this time, it was also the Dutch “Golden Age”: the century during which art, culture, trade, and *ahem* slavery flourished in the Netherlands. It was during this time that the VOC set up trading posts in Coromandel, Gujarat, Bengal and the Malabar Coast. Nicolaas Witsen, a VOC administrator, collected these miniatures and his collection focussed on the Mughals.

But do remember that not everything during the Dutch Golden Age was well and happy. With the Netherlands being a former colonizing country, there has been much debate happening within the museum sector in the Netherlands about dropping the term altogether as it does not accurately reflect the reality of that time period. The Rijksmuseum famously chose to retain this when other museums like the Amsterdam museum chose to drop it from one of their collections so as to make their museums more inclusive. So definitely expect to see the phrase the Dutch Golden Age used during this exhibition as well.

Apart from Rembrandt being influenced by Indian miniatures, Indian painters like Kesu Das were also inspired by the Dutch prints that somehow made their way to the Indian subcontinent through the Christian missionaries. As a result, you can see a lot of Christian themes like “devotion of the virgin Mary and child” explored through their paintings.

Although this exhibition can be extensive, it does need you to have a bit of background knowledge on the VOC, and the realities of the Dutch Golden Age.

Where is the India-Netherlands exhibition in Mumbai: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya

Have you perfected taking a deep breath before saying the name of the museum? Good! Now that you know the name, let me tell you about this interesting museum.

CSMVS is located a half an hour walk away from the Gateway of India (trust me, that’s a short distance in Mumbai) in the south of the city. The grandeur of the building will strike you immediately where you might recognize Mughal, Jain and Maratha architecture blending together beautifully.

A building that has been around since the early 20th century, it was initially named Prince of Wales Museum of Western India, after King George V. Indian cities, monuments, streets, and buildings have been named and renamed time after time since independence, reflecting the country’s political leaders’ agenda. In 1998, the museum was renamed after Shivaji Bhonsale I, a Hindu emperor of the Maratha kingdom.

Today, it is one of the main museums in the city and has over 1500 objects from different time periods. Be prepared to spend at least three hours (I spent four, but I am quite slow) in there! When you first enter the premises of the museum, you will see the beautiful lawns and gardens that surround the building. You can buy the tickets at the entrance and be on your merry way.

Psst, you can get some respite from the heat because it’s one of the few exhibition halls in the museum that is air-conditioned

So who is actually in India? Are you going to visit this exhibition? Let us know in the comments below!

Feature Image: Kavana Desai/Supplied