Natural History Museums in the Netherlands
Natural history and marine museums with collections on animals, plants, minerals and the history of the Earth.
North Holland (6)
South Holland (5)
Friesland (1)
Gelderland (1)
Limburg (1)
Overijssel (1)
Natural History Museums in the Netherlands: Overview & Tips
Our guide lists 15 natural history museums in the Netherlands, spread across 6 provinces and 10 towns and cities. Most of them are in North Holland (6), South Holland (5), and Friesland (1).
At the city level, Amsterdam (4), Leiden (2), and Rotterdam (2) lead the way – ideal if you want to see several natural history museums in a single day.
Where prices are published, a regular adult ticket costs €14.75 at the median, and the middle half charge between €13.50 and €18.
8 museums are fully wheelchair accessible, 15 offer dedicated programs for families, and 11 have a café or restaurant. These figures come from our ongoing research – museums whose details we haven’t verified yet aren’t included in the counts.
Top 10 natural history museums in the Netherlands
The best-known natural history museums in the Netherlands
NEMO Science MuseumTechnology · Amsterdam
Naturalis Biodiversity CenterNature · Leiden
Teylers MuseumNature · Haarlem
Hortus Botanicus AmsterdamNature · Amsterdam
Hortus botanicus LeidenNature · Leiden
ARTIS-MicropiaNature · Amsterdam
CORPUSNature · Oegstgeest
Natuurhistorisch Museum RotterdamNature · Rotterdam
Kasteel DoorwerthCastles & Palaces · Doorwerth
Trompenburg Tuinen & ArboretumNature · Rotterdam
Natural history museums in the Netherlands with programs for families
- NEMO Science MuseumTechnology · Amsterdam
- Naturalis Biodiversity CenterNature · Leiden
- Teylers MuseumNature · Haarlem
- Hortus Botanicus AmsterdamNature · Amsterdam
- Hortus botanicus LeidenNature · Leiden
- ARTIS-MicropiaNature · Amsterdam
- CORPUSNature · Oegstgeest
- Natuurhistorisch Museum RotterdamNature · Rotterdam
- Kasteel DoorwerthCastles & Palaces · Doorwerth
- Trompenburg Tuinen & ArboretumNature · Rotterdam
Wheelchair-accessible natural history museums in the Netherlands
- NEMO Science MuseumTechnology · Amsterdam
- Naturalis Biodiversity CenterNature · Leiden
- ARTIS-MicropiaNature · Amsterdam
- Natuurhistorisch Museum RotterdamNature · Rotterdam
- Trompenburg Tuinen & ArboretumNature · Rotterdam
EcomareNature · De Koog
De MuseumfabriekRegional · Enschede
Natuurhistorisch Museum MaastrichtNature · Maastricht
Natural history museums in the Netherlands with the highest published visitor numbers
Current special exhibitions at natural history museums in the Netherlands
- Game OnNEMO Science Museum · Amsterdam · until October 25, 2026
- Het bos van SurinameNaturalis Biodiversity Center · Leiden · until May 2, 2027
- Zeker weten? Hoe wetenschap werktTeylers Museum · Haarlem · until August 29, 2027
- Planten & PlanetenHortus botanicus Leiden · Leiden · until December 24, 2029
- De Nachtwacht LeeftARTIS-Micropia · Amsterdam
- Complex Individuality – korstmossen van Suzette Bousema en Ingeborg KlarenbergNatuurhistorisch Museum Rotterdam · Rotterdam · until October 25, 2026
- Onfortuinlijke MuizenNatuurhistorisch Museum Rotterdam · Rotterdam
- Stippen, Strepen & SpiralenNatuurhistorisch Museum Rotterdam · Rotterdam · until March 29, 2027
- Vogels tussen decor en werkelijkheidNatuurhistorisch Museum Rotterdam · Rotterdam · until January 3, 2027
- Orakel: Een walvis op het strandNatuurhistorisch Museum Rotterdam · Rotterdam · until February 7, 2027
By province
Cities with the most museums
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
How many natural history museums are there in the Netherlands?
Our directory currently lists 15 natural history museums in the Netherlands across 10 towns and cities.
What are the best-known natural history museums in the Netherlands?
Some of the best known are NEMO Science Museum, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Teylers Museum, Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam, and Hortus botanicus Leiden.
Which natural history museums in the Netherlands are open on Mondays?
Many museums are closed on Mondays, but according to their regular hours 7 are open, such as Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam, and Hortus botanicus Leiden.
Which natural history museums in the Netherlands are wheelchair accessible?
8 museums are fully wheelchair accessible, including NEMO Science Museum, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, and ARTIS-Micropia. Others are partially accessible – you’ll find the details on each museum’s page.
How much does it cost to visit natural history museums in the Netherlands?
A regular adult ticket costs €14.75 at the median, with prices ranging from €7 to €26.95. Children, students and families usually pay less.
Other categories: Art & Design · History & Cultural History · Science & Technology · Archaeology & Antiquity · Memorials · Castles, Palaces & Monasteries · Open-Air Museums · City & Regional Museums · World Cultures & Ethnology · People & Literature · Special-Interest Museums