Museum Kennemerland

About the museum

Museum Kennemerland shows the history of the region between the dunes and the former IJ. The impetus came in 1927 from an exhibition marking the 650th anniversary of Beverwijk's market rights. In 1930 the Kennemer Oudheidkamer and the Historical Society Midden-Kennemerland were founded, and in 1931 the first collection opened. Over the following decades the museum moved several times, including to the town hall on the Breestraat, to Uitgeest and to Huis Scheybeeck.

In 1989 it moved into the former town hall of Wijk aan Zee en Duin, a Rijksmonument from 1908 in the Dutch Classicist style. It was officially opened there in 1991 and given the name Museum Kennemerland. It is run by around 55 volunteers.

Among the highlights are the carpets from the Kinheim carpet-weaving workshop, which hang in the mayor's room. In the first half of the 20th century the company hand-knotted large carpets, including for the Peace Palace, luxury ships and Soestdijk Palace, until production ended in 1973. There is also the Art Deco stoneware of the Potterie Kennemerland with its colourful block patterns, which was produced until 1942. A large wall map records archaeological finds from prehistoric traces to Roman objects, and themes such as the country houses of wealthy Amsterdammers in the 17th century, for example Beeckestijn, link the region to the wider sweep of history.

Highlights

• Kinheim carpets in the mayor's room
• Art Deco ceramics of the Potterie Kennemerland
• Archaeological wall map of the region
• Country houses such as Beeckestijn in the 17th century
• Rijksmonument from 1908 as the museum building

Permanent exhibitions

• Kinheim-Teppiche – Hand-knotted carpets from Kinheim, the Beverwijk carpet manufactory, which supplied customers from the Peace Palace to luxury ships until 1973.
• Potterie Kennemerland – Art Deco stoneware with coloured block patterns, made by hand until 1942.
• Geschichte der Region Kennemerland – Archaeological wall map, the landscape along the former IJ and life on the country estates of the 17th century.

Founded

1930

Operated by

Stichting Museum Kennemerland

Admission & discounts

Free admission with Museumkaart and for Friends of the Museum, members of the Historical Society Midden-Kennemerland, the Vereniging Rembrandt and ICOM members.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Easily accessible for visitors with physical disabilities; a lift also reaches the first floor, and a loan wheelchair is available (register in advance by email). Several films explain the collection with spoken commentary.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

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

Children under 12 have free admission. For schools there is a treasure hunt through the museum, and children's activities occasionally take place during the holidays.

Getting there & parking

According to the museum, it is a 10–15 minute walk from Beverwijk station.

Amenities & dining

Books and maps on regional history can be ordered by email.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events

Up to 50 guests.

Several halls for meetings and events with plenty of daylight and modern media technology, for 10 to 50 people depending on the hall; enquiries by email.

Plan your visit