Historiehuis van de Maasvallei
Local history museum in historic houses in Elsloo with a village shop, workers' cottages, the Maasvallei knowledge centre and Linear Pottery (Bandkeramik) finds.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Historiehuis van de Maasvallei grew out of the Streekmuseum Elsloo, which was initially known as "De Schippersbeurs". It shows how people in a village on the Maas lived and worked between about 1650 and 1950. The collection began in 1960 in the old town of Elsloo, after the 17th-century Schippershuis and two 18th-century workers' cottages had been restored.
In the furnished houses, visitors can see how families lived in earlier times. There is also a reconstructed village shop from the period 1920 to 1950, a new museum section, and an exhibition on the Second World War that was added in the garden in 2005. A separate area is devoted to the Maaslandse Streekdracht, the regional costume around 1900.
Elsloo is considered the site of one of the largest settlement excavations of the Linear Pottery culture (Bandkeramik) in the Netherlands, and pottery finds from it are part of the collection. The collection also includes documents and photographs on the construction of the Julianakanaal between 1925 and 1935, and the Harie Rouvroye war collection with books, posters, emergency money and everyday objects.
Since May 2023 the house has operated under the name Historiehuis van de Maasvallei and combines the museum with an information and knowledge centre on the Dutch-Belgian Maasvallei. It is run by an independent foundation with a curator and around 30 volunteers.
Highlights
- Two restored 18th-century workers' cottages with original furnishings
- Nostalgic village shop and kitchen in the style of 1920 to 1950
- Linear Pottery finds from one of the largest excavations in the Netherlands
- Maaslandse Streekdracht and the Harie Rouvroye war collection
- Historic village walk through the old center of Elsloo
Permanent exhibitions
- Arbeiterhäuschen und Dorfladen – Two restored 18th-century cottages as well as a reconstructed shop and kitchen show village life between 1650 and 1950.
- Bandkeramiek uit Elsloo – Finds from a Neolithic settlement show how early farmers lived on the Maas.
- Maaslandse Streekdracht – Regional costumes from around 1900 show how people in the Maas region dressed.
- Founded
- 1960
- Operated by
- Stichting Historiehuis van de Maasvallei
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €5 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 14 · Children up to and including age 14 enter free. |
| Groups (10+ people) | €4 per personper person for groups of 10 or more |
| Primary school class | €25 |
| Secondary school class | €50 |
| Historic village walk (groups of 10 or more) | €5per person |
| Museum with village walk (groups of 10 or more) | €8per person |
Prices valid since September 1, 2025.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: not available
- 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
The house is mainly located in listed buildings with stairs. Wheelchair-accessible are the new museum section, the nostalgic kitchen, the shop, the ground floor of the old cottages, the knowledge centre and the toilet.
Kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 14 |
|---|
Children up to age 14 pay no admission. The museum works with schools on projects and, together with the Dorpsplatform Elsloo, offers environmental courses on regional history every year.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Beek-Elsloo (NS-Bahnhof) · 30-min walk
Beek-Elsloo station (NS train and bus); from there about a 30-minute walk to the old village center.
By car
No on-site parking at the museum.
The house has no parking lot of its own. Visitors are asked not to park in the old village center, but at Kaakstraat/Terhagen or at Scharberg.
Amenities & dining
- Museum shop
Museum shop in the house; restaurant with terrace nearby.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Weddings / ceremonies
Can be rented for weddings (€150) and as a photo location (€25); workshops are also offered.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Volunteers will personally guide visitors through the house on request. Guided tours for groups can be booked, as well as workshops and the village walk. |
