Waterlandsmuseum de Speeltoren

About the museum

The Waterlandsmuseum de Speeltoren in Monnickendam presents the Waterland region, the peat and pasture land north of Amsterdam, in all its facets: how the originally swampy peatland formed, subsided and was protected by a sea dike, and how people lived and worked in villages and small towns such as Monnickendam, Ilpendam and Broek in Waterland. Alongside its own collection, the museum shows loans from Naturalis, the Hoogheemraadschap, the Amsterdam Museum and the Museum Speelklok, among others.

The present building of around 400 square metres was newly built in 2012 around the Speeltoren, a medieval tower from 1450. According to the museum, the tower houses the oldest carillon in the world that is still played. The Carillonzaal under the roof has been completely renewed: a film shows the clockwork and chimes in detail, visitors can play a replica carillon themselves, and projections let them experience the view from the tower gallery over the landscape.

The exhibition is spread across five halls. The Water & Land hall takes visitors through 2,000 years of landscape history with animals and hands-on elements; the Historiezaal tells of monks as early settlers, archaeological finds, shipping and fishing, of Monnickendam's eel smokehouses (with a "Palingbox" to smell) and of tiles and painted interiors. For children aged 4 to 12 there is a Juniorzaal of its own, where touching everything is expressly allowed.

Highlights

• Medieval Speeltoren of 1450 with the oldest carillon in the world that is still played
• Carillonzaal with a film about the clockwork and a replica carillon to play yourself
• Water & Land hall: 2,000 years of Waterland's landscape history
• Palingbox: the smell of old Monnickendam (eel smokehouse)
• Hands-on Juniorzaal for children aged 4 to 12

Permanent exhibitions

• Wasser & Land – Reconstruction of the Waterland landscape over 2,000 years, with animals, human intervention and the vulnerability of the region.
• Historie von Waterland – Stories of the old villages, shipping and fishing, eel smoking, archaeological finds and tiles.
• Carillonzaal – Film about the clockwork and carillon, a replica carillon to play yourself and projections from the tower.

Operated by

Stichting Museum de Speeltoren

Admission & discounts

Free admission with Museumkaart.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• 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

Accessible toilet, lift and seating in every hall. A disabled parking space is located in front of Kerstraat 45, about 50 metres from the museum.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations

The Juniorzaal is designed for children aged 4 to 12 (archaeological dig, discovery house, memory cabinet). There is an activity booklet for 4- to 6-year-olds and a rally with a diploma for 7- to 12-year-olds; holiday activities for 6- to 12-year-olds.

Getting there & parking

From Amsterdam: A10, exit Volendam (S116), then continue on the N247 towards Volendam and take the exit Monnickendam/Marken. From Edam and Volendam, follow the N247 towards Amsterdam and leave at the same exit.

Amenities & dining

Seating in every exhibition room.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit