At the Netherlands Open Air Museum you walk from one farmyard to the next along paths through the trees. Farmhouses, mills and homes from all over the country were brought here to Arnhem. In the workshops you watch craftspeople at work, from the blacksmith to the rope maker. A historic tram carries you from one side of the grounds to the other. Indoors, the Canon of the Netherlands tells the story of the country in ten large sets.
- Location
- Hoeferlaan 4, Arnhem
- Highlights
- Farmhouses, mills, workshops, the tram and the Canon of the Netherlands
- Size
- About 44 hectares of park
- Good to know
- In low season the park is open but the historic buildings are closed
- Museumkaart
- Free entry for card holders
What you see at the Netherlands Open Air Museum
Every building in the park has its own story. You step into a farmhouse, an old café from the Amsterdam Jordaan and wooden houses from the Zaan region. Further on you find a paper mill, a shipyard from the harbour of Marken and a German border post from the First World War. At the stocking mender you learn how nylon stockings used to be repaired, and in the workshops the blacksmith and the rope maker show their trade. An indoor exhibition looks at life with a disability. Children can let off steam at the Kindererf, the children's farmyard, and on Zaan Square.
The Canon of the Netherlands
In the entrance building you find the Canon of the Netherlands, a walk through Dutch history in ten large sets, from the prehistoric burial monuments known as hunebedden to the present day. You see, hear and feel the high and low points of the past, and you get an overview before you head out into the park. If you visit it first, the farmhouses and workshops outside suddenly fit into the bigger story. It is also a good place to be when it rains.
More than a century of history
The museum was founded in 1912 and opened to the public on 13 July 1918. Its park covers about 44 hectares and has its own tram line of more than one and a half kilometres, served by electric trams. That means you can go from a Zaan neighbourhood to a farmyard in a single day without leaving the grounds. Because the museum lies in the woods on the outskirts of Arnhem, the park is also a green place for a long walk. If you want to see more art in the region, the Kröller-Müller Museum is another good stop in Gelderland.
Planning your visit to the Netherlands Open Air Museum
Check the season before you travel, because it decides what you see. In high season the historic buildings are open and the tram runs through the park. In low season the museum is open as a park only: the historic buildings are closed and only the Canon Café serves food and drinks. Around the winter holidays the squares get festive lights and a winter fair. The museum advises you to reserve tickets online and plan what you want to see in advance. From Arnhem station, city bus 3 towards Burgers' Zoo / Openluchtmuseum brings you close, followed by a five minute walk.
Frequently asked questions about the Netherlands Open Air Museum
Is the open air museum in Arnhem open in winter?
Do I need to book tickets in advance?
How do I get there by public transport?
Does the tram run all year?
Is the Museumkaart valid here?
Plan your visit
Tickets and attractions in Gelderland are available through our ticket partner Tiqets.
Museums in Gelderland