The Dutch National Military Museum in Soesterberg not only combines the collections of two museums, it has also been divided into two major spaces.
The building, which is in the grounds of a former military air base, opened on 11 December 2014. The structure is designed to connect the military legacy of the collections with that of the surrounding landscape.
The air base is an important location for Dutch military aviation and the remains of air-raid shelters and bunkers are still visible. Inside the museum, history is brought to life through a combination of mixed-media exhibitions and a wide range of arsenal and military vehicles.
The museum comprises a “daylight museum” on the ground floor and a “black box” on the first floor. The daylight museum gives a chronological overview of the past 1,000 years of military technology. It features helicopters, tanks, armoured vehicles and planes. The aim is to introduce new objects at a later date.
The black box space is split into six themed mixed-media environments. These displays tell the story of the how the military has shaped the appearance of the Dutch landscape. It begins from a wider international perspective and gradually moves into more detailed and intimate stories.
The museum combines collections from the former Military Aviation Museum in Soesterberg and the Army Museum in Delft, which have now closed.
What can visitors expect?
Hedwig Saam: It’s a museum of real stories told by real people about war and peace. There is a lot of interactivity and innovative technology, but all the exhibitions are still very authentic and moving.
The grounds outside should also be experienced alongside any visit to the museum. They are now a nature reserve but they still have traces of the past, such as air-raid shelters, bunkers, bomb craters and runways. An artistic director will be overseeing an outdoor programme of events for this year.
There is a big emphasis on personal stories. How is this conveyed in the exhibitions?
In the black box museum upstairs there is a space dedicated to small narratives. In a mini-gallery, which only holds a few people at a time, veterans tell their stories via audiovisual screens. Intimate objects belonging to the military personnel also help to bring the stories to life. It’s emotional and powerful.
What has been the reaction since its opening?
The Dutch have a reluctant relationship with their military, so it’s exceptional that this museum has been built and is such a success. But in the light of the recent terrorist events across Europe there is growing support, and people are now more aware that freedom and liberty are not simply a matter of status quo.
How do you appeal to a wider audience?
The whole museum was conceived with families in mind so everything is geared towards being very accessible, interactive and attractive for those who visit with their children. It is a visually stimulating environment, but is also beautifully detailed.
Why did you decide to divide the building into two main spaces?
It was a practical solution – the big objects that can deal with different conditions, such as light, are in the daylight museum while the black box houses the more delicate items, such as the textiles and mixed media. But it also reflects the two curatorial approaches – one chronological and one thematic.
Alexandra Genova is a freelance journalist
Cost €160m
Architect Felix Claus Dick van Wageningen Architects
Exhibition concept and design Kossmann.dejong
Landscape architect H+N+S Landscape
Lighting design Rapenburg Plaza
Interactives Shosho & Fabrique
Animation Shosho
Film Shosho & Aanpak film
Audio and audiovisuals Shosho & Aanpak film
Mounting Bruns
Wayfinding Mijksenaar
Realisation Bruns
Developer Heijmans
The building, which is in the grounds of a former military air base, opened on 11 December 2014. The structure is designed to connect the military legacy of the collections with that of the surrounding landscape.
The air base is an important location for Dutch military aviation and the remains of air-raid shelters and bunkers are still visible. Inside the museum, history is brought to life through a combination of mixed-media exhibitions and a wide range of arsenal and military vehicles.
The museum comprises a “daylight museum” on the ground floor and a “black box” on the first floor. The daylight museum gives a chronological overview of the past 1,000 years of military technology. It features helicopters, tanks, armoured vehicles and planes. The aim is to introduce new objects at a later date.
The black box space is split into six themed mixed-media environments. These displays tell the story of the how the military has shaped the appearance of the Dutch landscape. It begins from a wider international perspective and gradually moves into more detailed and intimate stories.
The museum combines collections from the former Military Aviation Museum in Soesterberg and the Army Museum in Delft, which have now closed.
What can visitors expect?
Hedwig Saam: It’s a museum of real stories told by real people about war and peace. There is a lot of interactivity and innovative technology, but all the exhibitions are still very authentic and moving.
The grounds outside should also be experienced alongside any visit to the museum. They are now a nature reserve but they still have traces of the past, such as air-raid shelters, bunkers, bomb craters and runways. An artistic director will be overseeing an outdoor programme of events for this year.
There is a big emphasis on personal stories. How is this conveyed in the exhibitions?
In the black box museum upstairs there is a space dedicated to small narratives. In a mini-gallery, which only holds a few people at a time, veterans tell their stories via audiovisual screens. Intimate objects belonging to the military personnel also help to bring the stories to life. It’s emotional and powerful.
What has been the reaction since its opening?
The Dutch have a reluctant relationship with their military, so it’s exceptional that this museum has been built and is such a success. But in the light of the recent terrorist events across Europe there is growing support, and people are now more aware that freedom and liberty are not simply a matter of status quo.
How do you appeal to a wider audience?
The whole museum was conceived with families in mind so everything is geared towards being very accessible, interactive and attractive for those who visit with their children. It is a visually stimulating environment, but is also beautifully detailed.
Why did you decide to divide the building into two main spaces?
It was a practical solution – the big objects that can deal with different conditions, such as light, are in the daylight museum while the black box houses the more delicate items, such as the textiles and mixed media. But it also reflects the two curatorial approaches – one chronological and one thematic.
Alexandra Genova is a freelance journalist
Project data
Cost €160m
Architect Felix Claus Dick van Wageningen Architects
Exhibition concept and design Kossmann.dejong
Landscape architect H+N+S Landscape
Lighting design Rapenburg Plaza
Interactives Shosho & Fabrique
Animation Shosho
Film Shosho & Aanpak film
Audio and audiovisuals Shosho & Aanpak film
Mounting Bruns
Wayfinding Mijksenaar
Realisation Bruns
Developer Heijmans
