Museum Vosbergen

About the museum

Villa Vosbergen developed from a farmhouse built between 1823 and 1832 on the Vossebergseveld. In 1890 the young Wilhelmina Kraus acquired the estate together with the woodland, and the Kraus-Groeneveld family gradually turned it into a stately villa; a garden house was added in 1893 and a large hall in 1925. The villa lies in the middle of an estate of around 110 hectares with walking trails in the English landscape style and is part of the belt of country estates around Eelde.

In 1997 the Kraus-Groeneveld Foundation, which manages the estate, was established. Since 2002 the villa has housed Museum Vosbergen, which was founded in November 2002 by Dick Verel and his wife Rieteke. It is based on the collection of about a thousand musical instruments that Dick Verel assembled and restored over more than seventy years.

The range extends from brass and woodwind instruments through string and reed instruments to automatic instruments and instruments of non-European origin. Among the pieces are Egyptian clappers from the period 1580 to 1085 BC, a Greek aulos and a baroque clarinet from about 1730. An audio guide with sound samples leads through the collection, and concerts of the Podium Vosbergen take place in the house.

Highlights

• Around a thousand musical instruments, from wind and string instruments to hurdy-gurdies, serpents and pianos
• Egyptian clappers, Greek aulos and baroque clarinet from about 1730
• Audio guide with sound samples and a film about the museum and the estate
• Concert series Podium Vosbergen in the villa
• Estate with around 110 hectares of woodland and walking trails

Permanent exhibition

• Sammlung Musikinstrumente – About a hundred instruments from the collection are arranged in groups such as brass and woodwind, string, reed, automatic and non-European instruments.

Founded

2002

Admission & discounts

The Museumkaart is not valid. Concert tickets are sold separately through the Ticketkantoor.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• 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

Because of some steep stairs, access is limited for people with walking disabilities. If there is greater demand, concerts are sometimes held in the Dorpskerk Eelde, which is more accessible.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

Children up to and including age 5 have free admission. For families there are combinations of a tour and a workshop in which children build instruments such as slide trumpets and drums themselves; in October a children's month programme runs.

Getting there & parking

By car from Groningen take the A28, exit Eelde, follow the signs to Eelde Airport and turn right about 500 metres past the airport (Museum Vosbergen sign). Also accessible on foot or by bike through the woods.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Coffee, espresso, hot chocolate, juice and homemade pastries, indoors or on the summer terrace. The shop sells, among other things, the book "Van Aulos tot Zink".

Events & venue rental

Concerts in the house have a maximum of 40 seats; groups of 8 or more people can visit on weekdays by arrangement.

Plan your visit