Flipje & Streekmuseum

About the museum

The museum's roots go back to 1901, when an association founded an antiquities cabinet for Tiel and its surroundings. By 1940 the collection had grown to over 1,200 recorded objects, including Roman and Batavian finds from the region. In November 1944 most of it was lost when German troops blew up the Waterpoort. In 1961 a modest museum reopened in a school building; in 1976 it moved into the restored Groote Sociëteit on the Plein, a stately 19th-century building that once served as a meeting place for Tiel's wealthy citizens.

The house has carried its present name since 2006, after the collection around the advertising figure Flipje was integrated. Flipje is the mascot of the De Betuwe canned fruit factory and stands for Tiel as a fruit town on the Waal. The collection also includes archaeological finds up to 6,000 years old, among them a roughly 4,000-year-old sun calendar, period rooms, documents on the Second World War and works by artists connected with Tiel.

The permanent exhibition is divided into several themes: new archaeological finds from excavations in 2016, the emergence of Tiel as a medieval trading town, Tiel in the Second World War, the historic period room of the Sociëteit, the fruit industry and the story of Flipje. A small team and numerous volunteers look after visitors, tours and events.

Highlights

• Flipje, the advertising figure of the Tiel canned fruit factory
• Archaeological finds, including a roughly 4,000-year-old sun calendar
• Tiel as a medieval trading town and fruit town on the Waal
• Tiel in the Second World War
• Historic period room in the Groote Sociëteit building

Permanent exhibitions

• Fruitstad aan de Waal und Flipje – The exhibition presents Tiel as a center of fruit growing and tells the story of the canning factory and its advertising figure Flipje.
• Ontstaan van Tiel und Wereldnieuws uit Tiel – Archaeological finds from excavations in 2016 and the town's development into a medieval trading center.
• WO2 in Tiel – History and personal accounts from Tiel during the Second World War.

Founded

1901

Admission & discounts

Free with Museumkaart, Rembrandtkaart and ICOM card; the VriendenLoterij VIP card is not accepted. Tickets are available at the ticket desk; no reservation is necessary.

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

Elevator between floors; wheelchair-accessible toilet on the top floor. For safety reasons, a maximum of 5 wheelchair users may be in the building at the same time. Official assistance dogs are allowed, other dogs are not.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide

Family offerings are the Spullevaer rally through the museum (July 1 to December 31) and the insect mission outdoors for children aged 6 to 11; plus school programs for all grade levels.

Getting there & parking

The museum is on the Plein in the center of Tiel.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Lockers

Museum shop at the entrance with Flipje items, regional products and books. On the fifth floor there is a free drinks station (coffee, tea, cocoa); cafés are located in the city center. Cloakroom and lockers are free of charge.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit