Museumpark VONK

Museumpark VONK in the Genneper Parken is one of the best days out in Eindhoven, especially with children. It brings together what many locals still call the preHistorisch Dorp (the prehistoric village) and the Eindhoven Museum: an archaeological open-air museum about the Iron Age and the Middle Ages, combined with a museum building about the history of the city and the region.

From prehistoric village to museum park

It all started in 1982, when teachers from a local teacher training college, led by Anneke Boonstra, built a reconstructed prehistoric village in the Genneper Parken. What began as an educational project grew into a real open-air museum. In 1995 a small group even lived for two months as people did in the Iron Age, as an experiment. In the late 1990s European subsidies allowed the museum to double in size and add the Middle Ages. Today the preHistorisch Dorp and the Eindhoven Museum together form Museumpark VONK.

What you can see and do

In the open-air museum you walk through reconstructed farms and houses from the Iron Age and the Middle Ages. People in period clothing show how daily life used to be: cooking over an open fire, old crafts and medieval games. Children can often join in with hands-on activities, and during the school holidays there are extra programmes. The museum building tells the story of Eindhoven and the region, with archaeological finds and objects from the city's history, from prehistory to the Philips era.

Plan enough time: the museum building alone takes about an hour, and with the open-air museum and the activities you can easily spend half a day.

Opening hours

• Open: every day from 10:00 to 17:00. Check the website for exceptions on public holidays.
• Tickets: sold online and at the ticket desk. Free with a Museumkaart.

In the Genneper Parken

The museum lies in the Genneper Parken, the large green area on the south side of Eindhoven, along the river Dommel. The park is great for walking and cycling, and it also has sports facilities. Combine your visit with a walk along the river.

Tips for your visit

• Dress for the weather. Most of the museum is outdoors; bring a raincoat and shoes that may get a little muddy.
• Go in the school holidays for extra activities, or on a quiet weekday morning if you prefer more space.
• Bring a picnic or use the brasserie, and combine your visit with a walk through the park.

Getting there

• By bus: lines 7, 317, 318, 407 and 408 run from Eindhoven Centraal to the Boutenslaan stop, about every ten minutes; from there it is a twelve-minute walk. Lines 15 and 16 stop at Camphuysenstraat, a thirteen-minute walk away.
• By car: the museum car park has a limited number of spaces at a day rate of €5. When it is full, there are alternatives along the Boutenslaan.
• By bike: the Genneper Parken are about fifteen minutes by bike from the city centre.

The address is Boutenslaan 161B, 5644 TV Eindhoven.

See also Eindhoven with kids, our museums guide and the things to do and see in Eindhoven.