Bevrijdingsmuseum Zeeland

About the museum

The Bevrijdingsmuseum Zeeland goes back to the collecting passion of Kees Traas (born 1958). His father Lau Traas had volunteered for the Canadian army as an 18-year-old after the liberation of Nieuwdorp on 30 October 1944 and belonged to the Zeeland Battalion. The first item in the collection was a Canadian helmet found on the Sloedam in 1944; later the holdings grew to well over 40,000 objects.

In 2001 Kees Traas placed the collection in a foundation. Until 2006 it was on show in a typical Zeeland farmhouse; after a comprehensive conversion, Princess Margriet officially opened the museum on 30 October 2009, on the 65th anniversary of the liberation of Zeeland and the Battle of the Scheldt. Because of the rush of visitors, the museum soon became too small and was considerably expanded: an exhibition pavilion of 4,500 square metres was built, surrounded by a park of just over three hectares with bunkers, tank obstacles, a Bailey bridge, tanks and a restored emergency church from Ellewoutsdijk. Princess Margriet opened the extended museum on 25 October 2019; since January 2021 the Four Freedoms Experience on Roosevelt's 1941 speech has been part of it.

In terms of content, the Battle of the Scheldt in autumn 1944 runs as a common thread through the exhibition, which extends from the Nazi seizure of power through occupation, the persecution of Jews and resistance to liberation, and also describes the experiences of the merchant navy and of the troops sent to the Dutch East Indies. The museum is run about 99 percent by volunteers and has been led by Stef Traas since 2009.

Highlights

• Permanent exhibition "Zeeland: bezet en bevrijd" on the Battle of the Scheldt
• Liberation Park Zeeland with bunkers, tanks, Bailey bridge and emergency church
• Four Freedoms Experience with Roosevelt's 1941 speech
• Ooggetuigenverhalen and eyewitness accounts from Zeeland
• Museum café with terrace and view of the park

Permanent exhibitions

• Zeeland: bezet en bevrijd in de Tweede Wereldoorlog – Permanent exhibition with original objects, personal stories and film footage from the occupation through the Battle of the Scheldt to the liberation of Zeeland.
• Four Freedoms Experience – Experience room on Roosevelt's 1941 speech on the four freedoms, with a sound shower and clips from award ceremonies.
• Bevrijdingspark Zeeland – Outdoor area of just over three hectares with bunkers, obstacles, a Bailey bridge, tanks and a restored emergency church from Ellewoutsdijk.

Founded

2009

Operated by

Stichting Bevrijdingsmuseum Zeeland

Director

Stef Traas

Admission & discounts

Free for holders of the Museumkaart and VIP cards of the VriendenLoterij. Payment by card or cash is possible at the ticket desk; tickets can be bought online via the website.

Accessibility

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

All floors are accessible by lift; wheelchairs and electric wheelchairs are welcome. Large mobility scooters do not fit into the lifts, but can be parked at the museum and exchanged for a loan wheelchair (reservation on +31 113 671 475 or info@bmzeeland.nl). The paths in the Liberation Park are paved and wide; seating is available along the paths.

Kids & families

Children aged 6 to 12 pay €8, children up to 5 years are free. The website describes child-friendly programmes only for school classes (scavenger hunt "De Geheime Code van Kees", age-appropriate tours).

Getting there & parking

The museum is located in Nieuwdorp (municipality of Borsele) on the island of Zuid-Beveland, address Coudorp 41. The website gives no information on parking or public transport stops.

Amenities & dining

• Café

Museum café in two locations: a small area at the entrance (accessible even without a museum visit) and the large café behind the museum with about 100 indoor seats and 60 terrace seats overlooking the park. Lunch offerings, soup, Zeeuwse bolus, apple pastry, ice cream, beer and wine; open during museum hours.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Up to 100 guests.

The museum café (100 seats indoors, 60 on the terrace) is available for family gatherings, anniversaries, birthdays and meetings, with buffet-style catering. Group packages from €19.50 per person with an introductory film, coffee with apple pastry and a visit to the exhibition and park.

Plan your visit