Katwijks Museum

About the museum

The Katwijks Museum on the Voorstraat is run by two bodies: the society Genootschap Oud Katwijk, which arose when village heritage such as traditional costume threatened to disappear, and the Stichting Katwijks Museum foundation. It is run by volunteers. The building is a national monument: designed in 1912 by the architect Hendrik Jesse for the shipowning Meerburg family, it served as a police station from 1953 to 1981. Thanks to a bequest from the painter Tjeerd Bottema, the museum could open here in 1983; the Bottemazaal on the upper floor is named after him. The building was extended in 2009.

Katwijk has been considered an artists' village since 1873. The permanent collection shows paintings by artists who came to the artists' colony between about 1870 and 1914, including Willy Sluiter, Jan Toorop and Thamine Tadema-Groeneveld, as well as a beach view by Jan van Goyen from the 17th century. In the Bottemazaal, works by the Bottema family of artists are shown in rotation.

In addition there are testimonies to fishing and local history with ship models and a maritime archive, traditional costume and a historical Peutinger map; another section is devoted to the old fire beacon of 1605. Since 2009 the museum has also been an official wedding venue of the municipality.

Highlights

• Paintings of the Katwijk artists' colony with Sluiter, Toorop and Tadema-Groeneveld
• Bottemazaal with works by the Bottema family of artists
• Ship models and maritime archive on fishing history
• Katwijk traditional costume and historical Peutinger map
• National monument of 1912 designed by Hendrik Jesse

Permanent exhibitions

• Schilderkunst – Künstlerkolonie Katwijk – Paintings by Dutch and foreign painters who came to the fishing village between 1870 and 1914, complemented by a beach view by Jan van Goyen.
• Bottemazaal – On the upper floor, the room named after the painter Tjeerd Bottema shows works by his family of artists in a changing selection.
• Visserij & Maritiem – Ship models and a maritime archive tell of Katwijk's fishing and seafaring history.

Founded

1983

Operated by

Stichting Katwijks Museum

Admission & discounts

Free with Museumkaart, Rembrandtkaart, ICOM card and for Friends of the Museum; members of the Genootschap Oud Katwijk free once a year. Payment by card at the ticket desk preferred.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking
• 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

For visitors with reduced mobility there are threshold aids, a lift to the first floor and a stairlift to the second floor. Two disabled parking spaces nearby: opposite on the Voorstraat (in front of the Hoogvliet supermarket) and at the corner of Voorstraat/Museumstraat; further parking behind the supermarket (access via Elleboogstraat).

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

Children's activities “Kijken, Beleven, Doen” (“Look, Experience, Do”) for primary school children, mostly on Saturday mornings (see agenda for dates); children up to age 12 free.

Getting there & parking

By car via the A44, exit 8, towards Leiden/Valkenburg/Katwijk via the N206. The museum is in the centre, about 200 m from the sea and beach.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Renovated museum shop with cards, regional items and books; for groups, coffee with pastry by arrangement.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Weddings / ceremonies

Official wedding venue since 2009: ceremonies in the Meerburgzaal or the Mark-Parlevlietzaal among the paintings.

Plan your visit