Museum De Waach Aldeboarn
Village museum in the historic butter and cheese weigh house of 1736 in Aldeboarn with a wall of 24 dioramas on crafts and trades around 1864.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The museum is housed in the “Waach”, the former butter and cheese weigh house of Aldeboarn (Dutch: Oldeboorn), built in 1736 and part of the protected village scene. On the upper floor the Grietman first sat as a judicial body; later it served as the municipal secretariat, while the actual town hall stood on the other side of the Boarn. After the municipality of Aldeboarn was dissolved in 1932, the building had various uses, including as a library.
Since 1986 the building has belonged to the foundation Aldheidskeamer “Uldrik Bottema” and has been set up as a museum. Under its old name, Aldheidskeamer Uldrik Bottema, it was long accessible only by appointment; in 2025 it was given the new name Museum De Waach Aldeboarn. The Rijksmonument (national monument) is currently being renovated, including the roof and chimney caps, mostly by local firms and volunteers.
The museum tells the history of the village, which had a connection to the Wadden Sea and the North Sea via the Boarn and the former Middelzee. Its centrepiece is a wall of 24 dioramas by Carla van der Heijde depicting occupations and trades around 1864. In addition there are models of the former Pancratius Church and the Andringastate, extensive photo collections and historic postcards, material on shipping on and along the Boarn, and memorabilia of figures such as the freedom fighter Jancko Douwama and the composer Paulus Folkertsma. The archive is largely digitised.
Highlights
- Wall of 24 dioramas on occupations and crafts around 1864
- Models of the Pancratius Church and the Andringastate
- Photo and postcard collections on Aldeboarn
- Shipping history of the Boarn and its shipyards
- Historic weigh house of 1736 as a Rijksmonument
Permanent exhibitions
- Dioramenwand: Gewerbe in Aldeboarn um 1864 – 24 dioramas by Carla van der Heijde show occupations, crafts and shops that were practised in the village around 1864.
- Foto- und Postkartensammlungen – Historic views of the village, including the “Groeten uit Aldeboarn” postcard series and photographs by well-known photographers.
- Schifffahrt in Aldeboarn – Life on and along the Boarn: skippers, ships and shipyards as well as Frisian merchant shipping.
- Founded
- 1986
- Operated by
- Stichting Aldheidskeamer „Uldrik Bottema“
Admission & discounts
| Village walk “Wandeling door de Tijd” with coffee/tea, pastry and museum admission (2026 dates: 2 July, 6 August, 3 September) | €14.50per person; starts at 3 p.m. at Eetcafé De Gondel |
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Admission prices for the museum are not stated on the website.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
Online museum kiosk with products in support of the museum.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
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| Good to know | Historic walking route through Aldeboarn and a guided village walk with a storyteller on selected dates; tours for groups via the museum. |
