The Canon of Dutch History

From megaliths to the modern day

Based around 50 windows to the past, the Canon of Dutch History leads you through the most important events, people and objects that have helped shape the Netherlands we live in today.

What is the Canon exhibition?

Since 2017 the Holland Open Air Museum has also been offering visitors an indoor museum featuring an exhibition on the Canon of Dutch History. Spectacular ‘film sets’, flowing one into another, tell stories from the Canon, spread across 10 successive periods of history. In the exhibition you will come face to face with historic figures from each era. You will get to know them and their world through games, animations and films. And, of course, through objects – evidence of their stories that has survived the passage of time. In the film room you can learn about the origins of the Netherlands and its population, climate and geography, while, in the final room, there is a wealth of information about the entire Canon to explore on an 18-metre-wide touchscreen.

An indoor and an outdoor museum

All the different aspects of Dutch history are also brought to life across the Holland Open Air Museum’s extensive park. Experience how the story of our daily lives is linked to key events from the past.

Inside the Zaan merchant’s house you are transported back to a plantation that belonged to the owner of the house and relied on slave labour. Near the farmhouse from Budel you will pass a section of the electric ‘wire of death’, which was erected along the Belgian/Dutch border during the First World War to deter refugees and smugglers. You will also come across links to the Canon in many other places across the museum park.

Education

Do you work in primary or secondary education and would you like to give your pupils the chance to discover the Canon of Dutch History for themselves? Take a look at our Educational projects and find out about the options available.