Museum Het Petershuis

About the museum

The museum is named after Prof. Dr. Johan Peters (1881–1964), one of the most important sons of Gennep in the 20th century. In his will he bequeathed the house to the municipality of Gennep. Because the inheritance was complicated, it took years until the Professor Johan Peters Stichting, which was to take over ownership and operation, was founded on 2 December 1975. After renovation, the house opened in December 1983 as a Streekmuseum (regional museum).

The building is one of the two oldest houses in Gennep and dates from the late Middle Ages, when it originally served as a warehouse. High storeys, heavy ceiling beams and thick walls point to this. Together with the town hall, the municipal office and the churches on the market square, it shapes the townscape.

The permanent collection uses finds, historical maps, prints, engravings and models to show life in the region from the first traces of settlement to more recent times. These include a model of an Iron Age farmstead from the village of Heijen, evidence of the castle Genneper Huys at the confluence of the Niers and the Maas, ceramics from prehistory to the present, the railway line "Duits Lijntje" and the Prussian weather vane of the town hall tower. The museum also organises eight temporary exhibitions a year with contemporary artists or current topics. It is run entirely by more than 40 volunteers.

Highlights

• Model of an Iron Age farmstead from Heijen
• Evidence of the castle Genneper Huys at the mouth of the Niers
• Ceramics from prehistory to the present, especially urns
• History of the railway line "Duits Lijntje" (NBDS)
• Prussian weather vane from the town hall tower
• Digital museum tour with podcasts and videos

Permanent exhibition

• Vaste collectie – Archaeological finds, models, maps and ceramics tell the history of Gennep and the region from the first traces of settlement to more recent times.

Founded

1983

Operated by

Professor Johan Peters Stichting

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission free; a voluntary donation (as a guide €2) is welcome. Participation in the school project €3 per participant; for special activities the price is set case by case.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• 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

Lift, special toilets and a gently sloping ramp to the entrance available. The basement with the ceramics section is not accessible to wheelchair users without a lift.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

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

Educational programmes for primary school and special education ("Het Duits Lijntje", "Het Geheim van een Opgraving") as well as rallies for all age groups. The collection includes mammoth teeth, horse bones and cannons with cannonballs.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Café: not available
• Restaurant: not available
• Museum shop
• Lockers
• Wi-Fi

No catering; eating and drinking in the museum are not allowed. A limited number of small lockers, museum shop at the cash desk, Wi-Fi password on request.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit