Historisch Centrum Leeuwarden

Current exhibitions

About the museum

The Historisch Centrum Leeuwarden grew out of the Gemeentearchief in 2001, the statutory archive of Leeuwarden's city administration, whose oldest charter dates from the 13th century. Over time, the archives of municipal institutions, churches, companies, families and associations were added, and the archive developed into an information center for the city's history.

In 2005 the HCL took over management of the municipal art collection, followed in 2007 by the Pier Pander Museum and the Pier Pander Temple in the Prinsentuin. In October 2007 the center moved into its new building on the Groeneweg at the edge of the Prinsentuin. In 2009 it became one of the province's archaeological depots, and since 2010 it has also managed the leaning Oldehove tower, which has been fitted out as a museum.

In its own building the HCL presents the permanent exhibition "Verhalen van Leeuwarden" with archival documents, paintings and archaeological finds from more than a thousand years of city history, a portrait gallery of well-known Leeuwarden natives, a treasury in the storage depot accessible only on guided tours, and regularly changing exhibitions. The reading room offers a library and image collection, including the complete Leeuwarder Courant since 1752 as well as hundreds of thousands of photos, maps and architectural drawings. The HCL is an institution of the municipality of Leeuwarden.

Highlights

• Permanent exhibition "Verhalen van Leeuwarden" covering more than 1,000 years of city history, with an introductory film
• Treasury in the storage depot with curiosities such as remains from the fair fire of 1842 (guided tours only)
• Archaeological finds from Leeuwarden, some of which you can touch
• Portrait gallery of about 50 famous Leeuwarden natives such as Mata Hari and Lawrence Alma-Tadema
• Complete Leeuwarder Courant since 1752 in the reading room

Permanent exhibitions

• Verhalen van Leeuwarden – Archival items, objects, paintings and excavated finds lead through ten themes, from the first terp mounds to the modern provincial capital.
• Schatkamer – An unordered display of special and curious items from the storage depot, accessible only on guided tours.
• Portrettengalerij – A gallery several meters long featuring some fifty well-known Leeuwarden natives, whose life stories are told digitally.

Founded

2001

Operated by

Gemeente Leeuwarden

Director

Meindert Seffinga

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Permanent and temporary exhibitions are free. The Oldehove and the Pier Pander Museum, both managed by the HCL, have their own opening hours and admission prices.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• 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

The public areas are easily accessible for wheelchair and mobility scooter users.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

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

For children there is a scavenger hunt and an audio tour in the exhibition "Verhalen van Leeuwarden", plus discovery tours about family coats of arms and gable stones; activities for Children's Month in October.

Getting there & parking

Taxi stand at the train station.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Lockers

Publications on Leeuwarden's history for sale; lockers for reading room visitors (coats and bags are not allowed there).

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Plan your visit