Natuurmuseum Holterberg

About the museum

The museum opened in 1938 on the Holterberg in what is now the Sallandse Heuvelrug National Park. It was founded by the taxidermist Piet Bos, who had learned his craft at the Natura Docet museum in Denekamp, together with his brother-in-law Jo Melcher. To plans by the architect Loggers, a small house with one room and four corner dioramas was built at first. The model for the idea of life-size “peep boxes” was the Panorama Mesdag in The Hague, although at the Holterberg the animal scenes take centre stage and the painted backgrounds only reinforce the illusion.

After the Second World War the museum benefited from growing tourism and was expanded bit by bit; Piet Bos initially had the backgrounds painted by other artists. In 1963 his son Kees Bos took over the management, aged 23 at the time. He had studied at the art academy in Arnhem and painted the backgrounds himself; his dioramas were so sought after that museums in Finland, Germany and France ordered works from him. During this period the museum was called Natuurdiorama Holterberg.

Today it is called Natuurmuseum Holterberg and is run as an unsubsidised private museum. Eleven dioramas with more than 1,000 animals are on display; a permanent exhibition honours the founders and shows, among other things, Piet Bos's workbench. The museum is also a tourist information point and an information point for the national park.

Highlights

• Eleven life-size dioramas with more than 1,000 animals
• Permanent exhibition on the founders with Piet Bos's workbench
• Bos van Daantje Das: play and learning woodland with nature tasks
• Free search games for children, craft table and museum café
• Information point of the Sallandse Heuvelrug National Park

Permanent exhibition

• Diorama’s – Eleven life-size peep-box scenes with over 1,000 European animals in natural poses, painted backgrounds partly by Kees Bos.

Founded

1938

Admission & discounts

The Museumkaart is not valid: the museum is an unsubsidised private museum and does not take part in the Museumkaart programme.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• 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

Wheelchair accessible with a disabled toilet; loan wheelchair and all-terrain wheelchair (struinrolstoel) available. Dogs on a lead are welcome.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Baby changing facilities
• Playground / play area
• Kids’ birthday parties

Free search games through the museum, a year-round craft table and, during school holidays, nature expeditions, puppet shows and children's tours. In the Bos van Daantje Das (separate ticket or combination ticket) there are nature tasks, and for the youngest the Groote Kikkerpad (Big Frog Path) with a swing and a maze. Children's birthday parties with whittling workshops or nature adventures; baby-changing room available.

Getting there & parking

Free car park at the museum; the museum is located on the Holterberg in the Sallandse Heuvelrug National Park.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Museum café for coffee, tea and pastries; museum shop accessible without admission; tourist information point and national park information centre (free access).

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit