Missiemuseum Steyl
Museum in the monastery village of Steyl with an ethnological and natural history collection of the Steyl Missionaries, displayed almost unchanged since 1931.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The museum's beginnings lie in Steyl, where the German priest Arnold Janssen founded the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) in 1875, during the Kulturkampf. In 1879 the congregation sent its first missionaries to China, and the first objects came from there to Steyl. As the missionaries went to further countries, the ethnological and natural history collections continued to grow; Brother Berchmans, a butterfly specialist who had returned from Brazil, looked after them. At first they occupied only one room in the mission house.
After the purchase of specimens from the Franciscan museum in Watersleyde, space was no longer sufficient. The foundation stone for the present museum building was laid in 1929, it was finished in 1931, and it was officially inaugurated on 1 February 1931.
A special feature is the arrangement, which has hardly changed since the death of Brother Berchmans in 1934; it makes the building a museum within a museum. Two touchscreens and QR codes at the display cases provide additional information on missionary work and monastery life in Steyl. The museum is run by the Stichting Missiemuseum Steyl.
Highlights
- Ethnological collection from the work of the Steyl Missionaries
- Natural history collection with animals and butterflies
- Exhibition almost unchanged since the 1930s ("museum within a museum")
- Touchscreens and QR codes with additional information
- Tour of the monastery garden and St. Michael's Church
Permanent exhibitions
- Ethnologische Sammlung – Objects that missionaries brought to Steyl from all over the world, beginning with the first pieces from China.
- Naturkundliche Sammlung – Specimens and animals from the missionaries' areas of work, in an arrangement that has hardly changed since the 1930s.
- Founded
- 1931
- Operated by
- Stichting Missiemuseum Steyl
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €9 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | €5free up to age 3 · Children and young people aged 4 to 17 pay €5. |
| Visitors with disabilities | –companion free · Companions of wheelchair users have free admission. |
| Groups (20+ people) | €8.50 per personPrice per person. |
| Families | €26Family ticket for 2 adults and 2 children, available online. |
| Primary school class (per pupil) | €3.50From 20 pupils; teachers free. |
| Secondary school (per pupil) | €4.50From 20 pupils; teachers free. |
Free with Museumkaart and ICOM card. Payment by PIN possible, no credit cards.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- 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
Wheelchairs can be borrowed free of charge; the museum is easily accessible for visitors with reduced mobility.
Kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 3 |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | €26 · Family ticket for 2 adults and 2 children, available online. |
- Hands-on stations
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Arriva bus line 66 from Venlo station towards Roermond; the Heijskampstraat stop in Tegelen is currently closed – get off earlier and walk about 15 minutes to the monastery village.
By car
Parking available
Plenty of car parking around the museum, coach park next to the building; bicycle racks at the entrance (unsupervised).
Charging stations for electric cars nearby.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
Small museum shop with candles, cards and ethnographic objects.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | no |
| School programs | yes |
| Photography | Photography is allowed without flash and tripod. |
| Good to know | Two guided tour formats after registration (at least 5 working days in advance): "The Time Capsule and the Animal World of the Past" (max. 15 people per guide) and "Monastery Gardens and St. Michael's" (max. 20 people, with stairs, weather permitting). A reservation for individual visits is currently not necessary. Dogs are not allowed, except assistance dogs. |
