In the second half of 2028, the Netherlands Open Air Museum (Nederlands Openluchtmuseum) will open a new indoor museum. The new facility will offer over 3,000 of extra space to display the museum’s extensive and varied collection—currently stored in the depot—to the public. In addition to a (semi-permanent) presentation on the history of daily life, the indoor museum will provide space for rotating temporary exhibitions. Consistent with the focus of the existing museum park in, the new venue will offer a diverse overview of the history of daily life over the past 400 years, with an emphasis on the last two centuries. Furthermore, a link will be established with recent history, current events, and the future. A designated area will also be devoted to the themes of diversity and intangible heritage.
Daily Life
It has long been the Open Air Museum’s wish to do much more with its vast collection, which provides insight into daily life in the Netherlands over the past centuries. In addition to the collection displayed in the museum park, the Open Air Museum manages 158,000 objects waiting to be shown to the public. The new indoor museum will be located in the space currently occupied by the Canon of the Netherlands exhibition, which will close its doors on 1 September 2027.
National Collection
The Netherlands Open Air Museum manages a very diverse collection of over one hundred buildings, 158,000 objects—including a small art collection—and a documentary collection. Together, they form a material archive of daily life in the Netherlands. The Netherlands Open Air Museum is a National Museum (Rijksmuseum) and its collection is a National Collection (Rijkscollectie).