Museon
Den Haag’s hypermodern science museum, one of the Dutch city’s top family-friendly attractions, succeeds at its mission of being both educational and fun. A very hands-on affair, Museon has plenty of buttons to press, smells to sniff, and movies to watch in the permanent exhibition, which deals with the development of life on Earth.
The Basics
Aimed at kids age 8 and up, the museum addresses major contemporary issues such as cloning, religion, and the environment through the use of accessible and innovative multimedia shows, models, and games. Screens scattered throughout the galleries operate a scavenger hunt in several languages, and there are enough sparkly rocks and minerals on the second floor to kick-start an early interest in geology. While not enormous, the museum has plenty to distract curious youngsters for a couple of hours.
Entry to Museon is included with the Museumkaart program, which also includes admission to other family attractions in Den Haag such as the Children’s Book Museum (Kinderboekenmuseum).
Things to Know Before You Go
The Museon is a must-visit for families with kids of all ages.
Travelers with prebooked tickets or museum cards enjoy skip-the-line-entry.
The main entrance of Museon is wheelchair-accessible, and two wheelchairs are available to borrow.
When to Get There
The Museon is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11am to 5pm. It's open on Mondays during Dutch school holidays, as well as on Christmas and New Year's Day. The museum closes an hour early on Christmas Eve and on December 5 (the Eve of Saint Nicholas Day).
Trip ideas
How to Get There
Conveniently situated in the center of The Hague, the Museon is accessible via bus 24 and tram 16, both of which stop right by the museum at Gemeentemuseum/Museon. Travelers coming by car may be able to find paid street parking in the area; alternatively, the World Forum parking garage is located nearby, and museum visitors can purchase exit passes from the museum.
Activities at the Museon
The Museon offers a variety of special activities throughout the year, generally aimed at school-age children. Popular choices include engineering and design workshops in which kids can learn how to make rockets, robots, and even space vehicles. On Sundays, science shows allow kids to try out science experiments.
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