Elisabeth Weeshuis Museum

About the museum

The museum is in the Elisabeth Weeshuis on Herenstraat in Culemborg. Elisabeth van Culemborg, one of the richest women of her time, left a large inheritance after her death in 1555 and stipulated in her will that a large part of it should benefit the poor. An orphanage was built from it, completed in 1560 and endowed with a generous starting capital – it is considered the first building in the Netherlands built specifically for this purpose.

Between 1560 and 1952, more than 700 children grew up here. The house was largely self-sufficient, with a wash house, bakehouse, brewery, courtyard, vegetable garden and orchard. Boys and girls lived separately, and daily life followed a strict rhythm. Since 1928 the town museum of Culemborg has also been housed here.

Today the tour leads through nine rooms: the historic kitchen and the regents' room, the former girls' dining hall with an imposing triptych, a vaulted cellar with play opportunities, the spinning room with Elisabeth van Culemborg and a dormitory where former orphanage children tell of their time in audio recordings. The collection includes a portrait gallery of the counts and countesses of Culemborg, 16th-century panel paintings, the “Adoration of the Shepherds” by Paulus Moreelse, art from Culemborg churches, photo collections and everyday objects. A garden next to the house rounds off the visit.

Highlights

• Portrait gallery of the counts and countesses of Culemborg
• “Adoration of the Shepherds” by Paulus Moreelse
• Rooms preserved in their original state, such as the regents' room
• Dormitory with memories of former orphans
• Museum café with garden terrace

Permanent exhibitions

• Rundgang durch das Waisenhaus – Nine rooms with a historic kitchen, regents' room, dining hall, vaulted cellar, spinning room and dormitory tell of the lives of the orphans and of Elisabeth van Culemborg.
• Sammlung zur Stadtgeschichte – Portraits of the counts, paintings of the 16th and 17th centuries, church art, photos and everyday objects show the history of Culemborg.

Founded

1928

Director

Dirk Janse

Admission & discounts

Free with the Museumkaart, Rembrandtkaart, ICOM card and for Friends of the Museum. The Museumkaart is available at the ticket desk.

Accessibility

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

The first and second floors can be reached by lift, the cellar and spinning room by stairlift. Wheelchair-accessible toilet on the ground floor; assistance dogs are allowed.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

For families there is a dice game, dressing up as an orphan and other hands-on activities; in the vaulted cellar you can try out for yourself how the children used to pass the time.

Getting there & parking

In your satnav, enter one of the car parks rather than the museum address. By bike: near junction 42, via Havendijk and Achterstraat to Herenstraat; e-bikes can be charged free of charge in front of the building.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Museum café with coffee, tea, local treats and small lunch dishes, also in the orphanage garden in good weather. The museum shop (books, gifts on the history of the town and the orphanage) is accessible during opening hours even without visiting the museum.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit