Natuurmuseum Brabant

About the museum

The museum opened in 1935 as the Natuurhistorisch Museum Tilburg in the former royal palace on Paleisstraat, at first with a single hall full of mounted animals and autumn mushroom displays. When the building was due to make way for a road around 1960, the collection temporarily moved to a converted textile factory on Kloosterstraat. Since 1985 the museum has been housed in a former villa on Spoorlaan that had previously been home to a technical school. The name changed several times: Noordbrabants Natuurmuseum from 1993, and Natuurmuseum Brabant since 2003. The biologist Frans Ellenbroek shaped the museum as its director from 1979 to 2018.

According to the museum, it holds the largest natural history collection in the southern Netherlands, with more than 700,000 objects: mounted specimens, specimens preserved in alcohol, herbaria, rocks, minerals, fossils and archaeological finds. The insect collection and herbarium are considered particularly valuable scientifically; volunteers from KNNV Tilburg add to the holdings through fieldwork.

On three floors and in an adjoining coach house, the permanent exhibitions show, among other things, a sperm whale, the Ice Age with a mammoth skeleton, and the nature of Brabant; there are also areas for children, workshops and programmes for school classes.

Highlights

• Sperm whale exhibition "Potvis"
• Ice Age exhibition with a mammoth skeleton
• Largest natural history collection in the southern Netherlands, with over 700,000 objects
• Children's areas "Kikker is hier!" and "BOS"
• Opposite Tilburg railway station

Permanent exhibitions

• Potvis – Permanent exhibition about the sperm whale, for all age groups.
• IJstijd! – Permanent exhibition on the Ice Age; the collection includes a mammoth skeleton.
• Jouw Brabant, mijn Brabant – Permanent exhibition on the nature and landscape of North Brabant.

Founded

1935

Admission & discounts

Free with the Museumkaart, the VIP card of the VriendenLoterij and the museum's family pass.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: not available
• Easy-to-read materials: not available
• Audio description: not available

Step-free entrance, wheelchair and walker available to borrow, lift (110 × 140 cm), two accessible toilets with changing table. One reservable disabled parking space at the museum (tel. +31 13 535 39 35), two public spaces about 80 m away. Tactile, scent, hands-on and audio elements in the exhibitions.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

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

Areas "Kikker is hier!" (up to 8 years) and "BOS" (4–8 years), discovery activity "Ontdek 't!" from 4 years; children's birthday parties can be booked. The toilets have changing tables.

Getting there & parking

Kiss-and-ride zone about 200 m away at Spoorlaan 404.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Museum café and museum shop.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

Up to 100 guests.

Five rooms: Libellenzaal (22 seats), Comedy-Wildlife-Zaal (16), Museumtheater (80, standing 100), IJsvogelzaal (28, up to 150 with the café) and Glazen Lab (32); with projector and Wi-Fi. Guided tours and workshops can be added; enquiries to reserveringen@natuurmuseumbrabant.nl.

Plan your visit