muZIEum
Experience museum in Nijmegen about blindness and visual impairment with a dark expedition, the Ribbelroute and a photo exhibition, led by blind guides.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The muZIEum in Nijmegen is an interactive museum where visitors experience what it is like to be blind or visually impaired. It started in 2005. In 2010 it ran into financial difficulties and went bankrupt, but the city of Nijmegen funded a restart in the summer of 2010. At the end of August 2012 it reopened in the basement and foyer of the municipal theatre, and in 2015 it reached record numbers with 37,500 guests and its 100,000th visitor.
On 1 September 2017 the museum moved into its own building on the Ziekerstraat in the city centre, the former Tilderspand. Today it comprises three experiences: the expedition in the dark, in which you experience everyday life or a holiday without sight with a blind or visually impaired guide; the outdoor experience Expeditie ribbelroute, in which you walk through Nijmegen with augmented-reality glasses and a white cane; and the photo exhibition Unseen, created together with Canon, which makes pictures tangible and audible.
Central is the idea of creating work: more than fifty blind and visually impaired guides are part of the team of about 75 employees and volunteers in total. The museum receives no structural subsidy and is financed mainly through admission revenue.
Highlights
- Expedition in het donker: everyday life and holidays without sight
- Expeditie ribbelroute through Nijmegen with augmented reality and a white cane
- Photo exhibition Unseen to touch, hear and see
- All tours led by blind and visually impaired guides
- Museum café and Doe-Plein for hands-on activities
Permanent exhibitions
- Expeditie in het donker – Tour in complete darkness with a blind or visually impaired guide, with a choice of “A Day in the Life of …” or “On Holiday with …” (90–120 minutes, ages 8 and up).
- Expeditie ribbelroute – Outdoor experience through the centre of Nijmegen with a white cane and augmented-reality glasses that simulate visual impairments (90–120 minutes, ages 13 and up).
- Founded
- 2005
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €15 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | €10Children aged 8 to 12; exhibition without expedition. |
| Groups (15+ people) | –No group discount; for 15 or more people, book via the group form. |
| Expedition + exhibition, adults aged 13 and up | €28 |
| Expedition + exhibition, children aged 8–12 | €23 |
| Surcharge for expedition with Museumkaart or VIP-KAART VriendenLoterij | €13The Unseen exhibition is free with these cards (one person per card). |
| Kraak en Smaak (tasting, approx. 30 min., 2 or more people) | €8.95 |
The base price of €15 applies to the Unseen photo exhibition alone (adults aged 13 and up); with the expedition it costs from €23. The Meedoenregeling, U-pas, Gelrepas and Klavervierpas apply; €1 discount with the library card of Bibliotheek Gelderland Zuid. The Museumkaart cannot be purchased on site.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking: not available
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The building is largely step-free, with a large lift, handrails and contrast markings on the stairs. The Unseen exhibition is also easy to visit by wheelchair or walker; not all expeditions are: wheelchairs and walkers cannot go into the dark expedition, and the Ribbelroute is possible for wheelchair users only with a companion. Guide dogs are allowed but stay in a quiet room during the expedition. In case of hearing or mobility impairments, please coordinate by email or telephone before booking.
Kids & families
Only partly suitable for kidsRecommended for ages 8+
| Time needed | approx. 1.5 hrs |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
- Hands-on stations
- Kids’ birthday parties
The dark expedition is recommended from age 8, the Ribbelroute from age 13; toddlers and babies cannot take part (a companion then stays with the child; the exhibition and games in the café are possible). Children's birthday parties for 6 or more people, 60–90 minutes; interactive Doe-Plein.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Plein 1944 · 140 m
About 15 minutes on foot from Nijmegen Centraal station; by bus to the Plein 1944 stop (approx. 140 m).
By car
No on-site parking at the museum.
No car park or disabled parking spaces of its own; car parks Mariënburg (on Sundays only from 10 a.m.) and Keizer Karel in the city centre.
- Accessible parking: not available
Until 12 noon you can drive right up to the door; after that the street is closed; for drop-off and pick-up after 12 noon use Plein 1944 (approx. 140 m).
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Lockers
muZIEum café with drinks and snacks; free lockers; bringing your own food and drinks is not allowed.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Corporate events
Venue hire as well as evening visits and exclusive visits on request; corporate offers such as “Onzichtbaar inzicht” at the museum or at your own location.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 1.5 hrs |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Photography | Phones are not allowed in the dark expedition; the smartphone is needed during the Ribbelroute; photography is permitted in the other rooms. |
| Good to know | A visit lasts 1.5 to 2 hours on average. Expeditions run with a guide in small groups (maximum 7 people in the dark, 6 on the Ribbelroute) and by default in Dutch; English or German on request. A €1 coin is needed for the dark expedition. |
