Stadsmuseum Grave
Town museum in the Baroque Hampoort of Grave: the history of the most besieged town in the Netherlands, with a large fortress model and changing exhibitions.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The museum is housed in the Hampoort, the last surviving town gate of the fortress of Grave. The gate was built at the end of the 17th century to a design by the architect d’Estangh, after Prince William III recaptured the town from the French in 1674 following a four-month siege and the heavily damaged fortifications were renewed between 1679 and 1689. When Grave lost its fortress status in 1874, almost all ramparts and gates were demolished between 1876 and 1914; only the Hampoort remained standing.
Over time the building served as a town gate with troop quarters, a military bakery, a field hospital and finally a residential house, whose last resident moved out in 2002. Since 1993 the Cloveniers shooting guild has used the south wing; since 2006 the north wing has housed the Stadsmuseum. The museum is run by the Graeft Voort foundation, which was founded in 1977 and operates the museum entirely with volunteers. The foundation also runs the Casemate Museum on the Maas and the knowledge centre Graafs Geheugen.
The permanent exhibition tells the history of Grave and its surroundings in two rooms: in the historic gate hall the focus is on the fortress and its sieges, with a large model of the town and ramparts around 1845. The modern central hall covers six themes from prehistory to the present, complemented by finds, media stations and a model with a vision of the future for the fortress town by the firm West 8.
Highlights
- The Hampoort, the only surviving town gate of the fortress, as the museum building
- Large model of the town and fortress of Grave around 1845
- Tour in six themes from prehistory to today with interactive screens
- Model of a vision of the future for the fortress town by West 8
- Archaeological garden next to the museum for school classes
Permanent exhibition
- Vensters op het Graafs erfgoed – Permanent exhibition in the Hampoort: the fortress and its sieges with a large town model from 1845, plus a modern hall with six themes from prehistory to today.
- Operated by
- Stichting Graeft Voort
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €7.50 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Young people under 18 have free admission. |
| Groups (10+ people) | €5 per person |
| Museumkaart | freeFree with a valid Museumkaart |
Free admission with the Museumkaart, for members of the friends' association and for young people under 18.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom
- 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
Accessible for wheelchairs, mobility scooters and rollators; accessible toilet available.
Kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 17 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
Programmes for school classes (tours, workshops, digging in the Archaeological Garden); the models and media stations in the museum are designed to be hands-on.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Busstation Grave · 6-min walk
About a 6-minute walk from Grave bus station.
By car
Free parking
Free parking near the museum and in the centre of Grave; in some places a parking disc (blauwe schijf) is required.
By car, turn off the N324 towards Cuijk onto the N321; the museum is then on the right.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
Museum shop with books on the history of Grave (during opening hours and online).
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Guided tours on request. Extensive school programme (around 1,200 pupils per year) with workshops and tours; the Archaeological Garden next to the museum (“Archeoloog in een dag”, April to October, €40 per group) can be booked for grades 1–8. |
