Belasting & Douane Museum

About the museum

The museum was founded in 1937 as the Stichting Belastingmuseum Prof. Dr. Van der Poel. Johannes van der Poel, head of the training programme for senior tax officials and later director of the Rijksbelastingacademie, built up a collection with which he wanted to bring tax history to life for his students. It was first housed in the tax office at the Boompjes; in May 1940 the office and the collection were destroyed in the bombing.

During and after the war, Van der Poel assembled a new collection, which still forms the core of the museum today. In 1948/49 the museum moved to Parklaan 14 and the academy to Parklaan 16, where the museum is located today. Later extensions, an internal relocation and a comprehensive renovation turned it into a modern museum, which reopened in 2012 with a thematic, interactive presentation.

The permanent exhibition leads through more than four centuries of customs history with large-scale projections, shows the oldest taxes from medieval tolls to the bicycle tax with its bicycle plate, stages the Eighty Years' War in the Tiende Penning Theatre and also examines the "burdened colonial heritage" of tax systems. A model of a border crossing with TIR customs control shows the situation before the single market of 1993, and curious smuggling objects tell of the everyday work of customs officers.

Highlights

• Customs history since the 16th century with large-scale projections
• Oldest taxes, from bread excise to the bicycle plate
• Tiende Penning Theatre on the Eighty Years' War
• Smuggling objects and a model of a border crossing with TIR control
• Free treasure hunt and museum dog "Doerak" for children

Permanent exhibition

• Dauerpräsentation: Steuern und Zoll – A thematic, interactive journey through Dutch tax history and the world of customs, with projections, the Tiende Penning Theatre, a border crossing model and smuggling objects.

Founded

1937

Operated by

Stichting Belastingmuseum Prof. Dr. Van der Poel

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Free for everyone on the first Wednesday of every month

Also free with the Museumkaart, Rotterdampas, CJP, ICOM, Rijkspas (+1 person), as a Friend of the Museum (+1 person) and for schools. Tickets can be reserved online.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

All exhibitions and facilities are accessible by lift; a wheelchair and folding stool can be borrowed. Wheelchairs and rollators are allowed; Alinkers and mobility scooters are not, for safety reasons (please notify in advance and a solution will be sought). Accessible toilet on the ground floor with changing facilities. Art route with sign language via the Wintor app, pictogram map at reception. Assistance dogs welcome.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Baby changing facilities

Children and young people up to 18 years have free admission. Free treasure hunt, the museum dog "Doerak" as a cuddly guide ("HONDleiding"), activities during school holidays and BSO visits; baby changing is possible in the accessible toilet.

Getting there & parking

The museum is located in the Scheepvaartkwartier between the Veerhaven and the Euromast.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Wi-Fi

Museum café with conservatory on the ground floor and an inner garden; museum shop; free Wi-Fi "BDM gasten". The whole site is smoke-free.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

The Kuyper Salon on the bel étage of Parklaan 14 for dinners, training sessions, meetings and presentations, with the terrace garden available in good weather. Enquiries: reserveringen@bdmuseum.org, +31 6 55346638.

Plan your visit