Museum Indruk
Living printing museum in a warehouse in Meppel: volunteers demonstrate historic presses, and visitors set type and print themselves.
About the museum
Meppel has been a town of printers for centuries – one reason why the Grafisch Museum Drenthe opened here on May 22, 1986. In 1995 it was renamed Drukkerijmuseum Meppel to emphasize its aim of presenting the history of the printing trade as completely as possible. It is housed in a listed warehouse building on the Kleine Oever in the heart of the old town.
The museum is run by a large team of volunteers, including many former printers, typesetters and bookbinders. On working machines, they demonstrate hand and machine typesetting, letterpress printing on historic presses, lithography, screen printing, papermaking, marbling and bookbinding. The collection is complemented by changing exhibitions of graphic artists and illustrators; past shows have featured works by Dick Bruna, Cornelis Jetses and Jan Kruis, among others.
Due to financial problems, the museum had to close in June 2023. After a thorough redesign, during which the building was tidied up and made considerably more accessible, it reopened in May 2026 – exactly 40 years after its first opening – under the new name Museum Indruk. Since then it has placed greater emphasis on hands-on activities, with a children's print shop, workshops and courses for adults.
Highlights
- Working historic printing presses and mechanical typesetting machines with demonstrations
- Hand composing room with lead and wood type to try out
- Lithography, screen printing, papermaking and bookbinding
- Children's print shop for marbling, papermaking and printing
- Workshops and courses in letterpress, screen printing, linocut and bookbinding
Permanent exhibitions
- Druckereiabteilungen – Tour through the screen printing shop, hand composing room, mechanical typesetting room, lithography shop, letterpress, bindery and papermaking workshop, where volunteers demonstrate the techniques on historic machines.
- Founded
- 1986
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €12 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | €10Children's price €10; the museum does not state an age limit for children or for free admission. |
| Seniors | –No senior discount listed. |
| Visitors with disabilities | –companion free · One companion of visitors who cannot move around the museum independently is admitted free with an OV-Begeleiderskaart (public transport companion card). |
| Groups | –Special rates for groups and school classes on request. |
| Children's birthday party in the children's print shop (age 7 and up) | €95Flat rate per party, max. 8 children and 2 adults, Wednesday afternoons by arrangement. |
Free with the Museumkaart; the VriendenLoterij VIP card is not valid. No reservation needed for a regular visit.
Accessibility
- 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
Both floors can be reached by elevator; according to the FAQ, the museum is largely wheelchair-accessible. Chairs and stools for resting are available in the departments. Wheelchair-accessible restroom available.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Time needed | approx. 60 min |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
- Hands-on stations
- Kids’ birthday parties
Dedicated children's print shop for marbling, papermaking, binding little books and printing your own name with lead type. Children's birthday parties from age 7 and a children's print club (course for ages 8 to 12).
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Meppel (NS-Bahnhof) · 15-min walk
From Meppel NS station, about a 15-minute walk to the center. Alternatively, city buses from the station to a stop in the center (a few minutes' walk), the on-demand bus "De Mug" (Mon–Sat) or Treintaxi/taxi (approx. 5 minutes).
By car
Paid parking
Paid parking in the immediate vicinity. Free parking in the Blankenstein business park, about a 10-minute walk from the center (exit Meppel-Centrum, drive to the back at McDonald's).
By car via the A32, exit 2 (Meppel), toward Meppel-Centrum, over the railroad viaduct, turn left at the traffic light over the bridge, then at the roundabout toward the center; after about 500 m the museum is on the left.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
Museum shop with cards, prints and gifts in the style of the printing trade, also accessible without visiting the museum.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | According to the museum, most visitors stay 1 to 1.5 hours, longer if they try things out themselves. Volunteers guide visitors through the departments and show the machines in operation. Groups, school classes and workshop participants should register in advance. Workshops and courses for adults (including letterpress, screen printing, linocut, Toyobo etching, bookbinding and open studio sessions in the letterpress department). Pets other than assistance dogs are not allowed. |
