Museum Hertogsgemaal

About the museum

The Hertogsgemaal was built in 1940 in the style of the Delft School: functional, practical and traditional. It belongs to the Blauwe Sluis complex (from 1768) and pumped water from the Hertogswetering and the Hoefgraaf into the Maas. In the pump cellar, two electrically driven Stork centrifugal pumps still stand; in the former engine room above, two Heemaf electric motors. Because of the well-preserved condition of these pumps and motors, the building is regarded as an example of industrial archaeology; old photographs hang in the house.

Today the Stichting Hertogsgemaal runs a small museum with display cases full of finds from the region, with a focus on palaeontology. On the ground floor are fossil bones from sand extraction at the Groote Wielen, and a video about sand mining runs alongside them; a book about the Groote Wielen can be viewed and bought at the counter. On the upper floor are finds from the last Ice Age, such as bones of woolly mammoth, woolly rhinoceros, giant deer, wisent, aurochs, bear, lion, wolf, horse, reindeer, arctic fox and elk, as well as human remains. Several shark teeth come from gravel extraction near Mill/Langenboom.

The house is looked after by volunteers. The foundation is seeking sponsors for the next restoration of the building, which has become a landmark of the landscape. In the garden is a World War II aircraft engine.

Highlights

• 1940 pumping station in the Delft School style, with preserved pumps and motors
• Bones of mammoth, woolly rhinoceros, giant deer, wisent and aurochs from the last Ice Age
• Fossil bones from sand extraction at the Groote Wielen
• Shark teeth from gravel extraction near Mill/Langenboom
• Free admission

Permanent exhibition

• Fossilien- und Eiszeitsammlung – Display cases with finds from the region: fossil bones from sand extraction at the Groote Wielen and Ice Age finds such as mammoth, woolly rhinoceros and giant deer.

Operated by

Stichting Hertogsgemaal

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission is free; donations are welcome.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

Enter "Rosmalensedijk 0" in your sat nav or head to the junction of Rosmalensedijk and Krommenhoek; the museum stands on this corner. In the garden is a World War II aircraft engine.

Amenities & dining

Nearby is the restaurant De Blauwe Sluis, with a terrace.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.