Biesbosch MuseumEiland

About the museum

The Biesbosch Museum goes back to a private foundation established in 1974 to create a museum for the Biesbosch tidal area. The first building opened on 6 June 1984; it was initially located on the upper floor of a restaurant at the Spieringsluis. In 1994 the museum moved into a new building on the Hilweg and was extended in 2001.

A fundamental transformation came in 2015: as part of the de-poldering of the Noordwaard, a watercourse was created around the building, so that the museum has since stood on its own island in the middle of the national park and presents itself as the "MuseumEiland". The museum's founder, Huib den Tuinder, is now the namesake of the library.

The permanent exhibition tells how the largest freshwater tidal area in the Netherlands came into being after the St. Elizabeth's flood of 1421, and is devoted to the people, their crafts and the natural world. The museum also includes the freely accessible outdoor museum De Pannekoek, a 30 × 30 metre water model, a museum café and its own tour boats. The museum is registered with the Museumregister Nederland and is a "Brabantse Natuurpoort".

Highlights

• Whisper-boat cruise (75 min.) through the Biesbosch, museum visit included
• Biesbosch beleving: walk-in water model (30 × 30 m, April–October)
• Outdoor museum De Pannekoek with willow coppices, duck decoy and Schrankkeet (freely accessible)
• Permanent exhibition on the origin of the Biesbosch after the flood of 1421
• Artwork "Waiting for it to end" by Alaa Minawi at the tip of the island

Permanent exhibitions

• Vaste tentoonstelling Biesbosch – Tells how the freshwater tidal area came into being after the St. Elizabeth's flood of 1421, and shows the life, work, crafts and nature of the Biesbosch in richly designed rooms.
• Biesbosch beleving – A 30 × 30 metre scale model of the Biesbosch with polders, dikes and rivers, where visitors can control water levels and watercourses themselves (April to October).
• Buitenmuseum De Pannekoek – Freely accessible open-air museum on an eight-hectare hook-shaped willow coppice with a duck decoy trap, beaver lodge and Schrankkeet, introducing the world of the willow coppice workers.

Founded

1984

Operated by

Stichting Biesbosch MuseumEiland

Admission & discounts

Free admission with the Museumkaart and for members of the Friends of the Biesbosch Museum. The outdoor museum De Pannekoek and the visitor centre with shop are free to enter. The whole boat (up to 45 people, incl. museum visit) can be chartered on request.

Accessibility

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

All visitor facilities are on one level on flat, threshold-free ground; the entrance has automatic sliding doors, and two heavy double doors to the central hall are opened by staff when needed. Two disabled parking spaces at the front right. Two wheelchairs and a rollator are available to borrow, as well as an off-road wheelchair for the grass paths of the outdoor museum and a Zonnebloemfiets (electric wheelchair bike). One of the three tour boats has a wheelchair lift (please mention when booking). Wheelchair-accessible walking trail on the rear part of the island. Assistance dogs welcome; other dogs are not allowed in the museum or on the boat.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Kids’ birthday parties

Treasure hunts (speurtochten) for children up to 12 (booklet with questions, UV-lamp search, bingo for the youngest, AR tour with the virtual guides Maas and Liam), Dierenvriendjespad (animal friends trail) in the outdoor museum with backpack tasks. The water model "Biesbosch beleving" with sliders and buttons invites hands-on experimenting. Children's parties from €12.50 per person (with boat tour €16.50).

Getting there & parking

By car via the A27 (Utrecht–Breda), exit 23 towards Werkendam, then follow the signs for "Biesboschmuseum"; from Dordrecht you can alternatively take the ferry across the Nieuwe Merwede at Kop van ’t Land. Roadworks by Rijkswaterstaat may cause delays. Private boats can moor at the guest jetty.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Coat check

Museum café Biesonder with terrace (accessible without an admission ticket; food and drink brought from outside are not allowed); picnics are possible in the outdoor museum. Freely accessible museum shop with souvenirs, postcards and books about the Biesbosch.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Up to 150 guests.

Meeting rooms: Huib den Tuinder Library (17–35 people), Filmzaal (approx. 60) and Grote zaal (up to 150). Catering and packages combining museum activities, the outdoor museum or a boat tour are available. Official wedding venue of the municipality of Altena.

Plan your visit