PreHistorisch Dorp (Historical Open Air Museum), Eindhoven

The Historical Open Air Museum (PreHistorisch Dorp), located in the Genneper Parken area of Eindhoven, brings the Iron Age and Middle Ages of Noord-Brabant to life. Through immersive demonstrations, reenactments, and reconstructed buildings, visitors can experience the daily routines, crafts, and traditions of the past. Whether it’s cooking over an open fire, playing medieval games, or spending a night in the stables, the museum offers a hands-on approach to history that appeals to both children and adults.

The museum welcomes a varied audience, with school children making up the majority of weekday visitors, while weekends and holidays attract families and tourists. Living history exhibits and special activities ensure there’s always something new to discover. Beyond regular opening hours, the museum also hosts historically themed corporate and family outings.

As part of the Eindhoven Museum Foundation, the Historical Open Air Museum is closely linked to the broader Eindhoven Museum, which preserves a collection of 23,000 historical objects-from Brabantine traditional clothing to modern industrial artifacts like ASML chipmaker suits. Together, these institutions are developing Museumpark Vonk, a new project that will trace 15,000 years of regional history, from prehistoric times to the present day.

Visitors of all ages can step into the past and learn how the first farmers worked, how Romans lived in the area, or even how to hunt like prehistoric humans. And with its interactive, hands-on exhibits-where even getting dirty is encouraged-it’s easy to see why the Historical Open Air Museum stands out as one of the most engaging history experiences in the Netherlands.