Museumpark Orientalis

Om museet

In 1911 the Catholic priest Arnold Suys, together with the architect Jan Stuyt and the artist Piet Gerrits, founded the Heilig Landstichting. The three had been so impressed by a stay in the Holy Land that they wanted to create a living biblical landscape on the Stuwwal near Berg en Dal: a journey through time through the life of Jesus. With the support of the widow Jeanne-Cécile Vroomans-Leclerq they acquired the hills Bakkersberg (later Sionsberg) and Usulenberg and laid out a devotional park.

On a site of more than 100 hectares, an ensemble of distinctive buildings and objects gradually emerged. At first the focus was on the New Testament; from the 1960s onward, life in the historical Near East was presented more broadly. The Heilig Landstichting became the Bijbels Openluchtmuseum; in 1993 an Arab village added Islam as the third monotheistic religion. The museum later took the name Museumpark Orientalis.

Today the park tells of cultures and traditions from the Roman Empire to the present and is among the oldest open-air museums in the Netherlands. The grounds lie in hilly woodland and are a listed monument (Rijksmonument). In December the “Feest van Licht” takes place, featuring what the park says is Europe’s largest Christmas diorama.

Højdepunkter

• Park of over 100 hectares with buildings and scenes from the world of the Near East
• Jewish and Arab villages and a Roman road with an inn
• Free electric bus and wheelchairs for loan in the hilly terrain
• Feest van Licht: Europe’s largest Christmas diorama (mid-December to early January)
• Journey through time across cultures and religions from the Romans to today
• Children’s treasure hunt and family ticket

Permanent udstilling

• Museumpark Orientalis – Dörfer und Straßen des Nahen Ostens – In the open-air grounds, the Jewish and Arab villages, the Roman road with its inn and other buildings show the living environments and religions of the Near East.

Entrépriser & rabatter

Free with the Museumkaart (including the Museumkidskaart), ICOM card, and for Friends and Founders of the park; the VriendenLoterij VIP-KAART is not valid. Cash payment is possible at the ticket desk in the main building. Online tickets are non-refundable.

Tilgængelighed

• Delvis kørestolsvenlig
• Elevator: ingen oplysninger
• Handicaptoilet: ingen oplysninger
• Handicapparkering: ingen oplysninger
• Servicehunde tilladt
• Taktile tilbud: ingen oplysninger
• Rundvisninger på tegnsprog: ingen oplysninger
• Letlæste tilbud: ingen oplysninger
• Synstolkning: ingen oplysninger

According to the park, the hilly wooded terrain is passable by wheelchair but not wheelchair-friendly. A free electric bus runs through the park daily until 5 p.m. (folding wheelchairs and rollators can be taken along); wheelchairs with narrow or extra-wide tyres are also available for loan (register in advance at info@museumparkorientalis.nl or +31 24 382 31 10). Companions free. An audio tour (Dutch, German, English) is available for the outdoor exhibition; a programme with a sign language interpreter is in development. Dogs are allowed on a leash, except on the Roman road and inside the buildings of the Jewish and Arab villages.

Børn og familie

Velegnet til børn og familier

• Familieomvisninger & workshops
• Opgavehæfte, skattejagt eller audioguide for børn

Children’s treasure hunt for the current exhibition (free with a ticket, for the whole family), family ticket, children’s programme. Children up to 3 free.

Transport & parkering

Enter “Museumpark Orientalis” as the destination in your navigation system. By bike from Nijmegen city centre about 15 minutes; bicycle racks at the main entrance. From 5 to 30 October 2026 the N325 (Ubbergseweg) between Nijmegen and Beek is closed to through traffic; the park remains open, and buses and cyclists may use the route.

Service & spisesteder

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museumsbutik

Zendo Zencafé at the entrance (Fridays only), Romeinse herberge in the middle of the park on all opening days (reservations via Knaapfood). Museum shop.

Arrangementer & udlejning

• Lokaler til leje
• Private fester
• Firmaarrangementer
• Bryllupper / vielser

Op til 80 personer.

Educatieruimte in the main building (approx. 40 adults) and Piet-Gerritszaal in the Heilig Landstichting (up to 80 people); also parts of the park or the entire park for weddings, photo shoots and filming. Prices on request only (reservering@museumparkorientalis.nl).

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