Drenthe

Museums & Galleries of Drenthe

Drenthe’s museums offer a journey from prehistoric times to the modern era. Explore the province's iconic Neolithic dolmens at the Hunebedcentrum or visit the Drents Museum for its collection of bog bodies and contemporary art. The region's history is preserved at the Kamp Westerbork memorial and the National Prison Museum in Veenhuizen. Cultural heritage is showcased in the open-air villages of Orvelte and Schoonoord, while specialized collections include international wooden shoes and industrial narrow-gauge trains.

China Crisis / CC BY-SA 3.0

A

Drents Museum

The Drents Museum is an art and history museum in Assen, Drenthe, in the Netherlands. The museum was opened in 1854.

Bogaerts, Rob / Anefo / CC BY 4.0

B

Herinneringscentrum Kamp Westerbork

This memorial center documents the history of the transit camp used during WWII. The site features original barracks, the commander's house, and a monument of 102,000 stones representing the individuals deported from this location.

melalouise / CC BY-SA 2.0

C

Hunebeds

Dolmens or passage graves with unknown origin are the typical landmark of Drenthe province.

Astrid Schröduer-Spaan / CC-BY-SA

D

Orvelte Museum Village

Rather unusual open air museum - or a picturesque village open to the visitors.

Louis Marve Krans (1875-1932) / Public domain

E

Mensinge

An authentically furnished 14th-century manor house in Roden. The estate showcases original period furniture, porcelain, and artworks, offering insight into the lifestyle of Dutch nobility through the centuries.

F

International Wooden Shoe Museum Eelde

The International Wooden Shoe Museum Eelde is a museum in Eelde, the Netherlands, for clogs, clog-making equipment and machinery.

G

Gevangenismuseum

Housed in a former labor colony in Veenhuizen, this museum explores the history of crime and punishment in the Netherlands from the 17th century. It includes a former courtroom, cell blocks, and a prison bus.

H

Ellert en Brammert

Ellert en Brammert is an open-air museum in Schoonoord expositing the way people lived in Drenthe at the time of the peat digging.

Speurlicht / CC-BY-SA-3.0

I

Drukkerijmuseum

Located in a historic warehouse in Meppel, this museum traces the history of printing and graphic techniques. It features working presses, typesetting equipment, and demonstrations of traditional bookbinding and lithography.

J

Industrieel Smalspoor Museum

Dedicated to industrial narrow-gauge railways used in peat extraction and construction. The museum features a large collection of locomotives and wagons, with train rides available through the surrounding peatlands.