Archeon is an archeological open air and
living museum
A living museum, also known as a living history museum, is a type of museum which recreates historical settings to simulate a past time period, providing visitors with an experiential interpretation of history. It is a type of museum that recr ...
in
Alphen aan den Rijn
Alphen aan den Rijn (; or "Alphen on the Rhine") is a city and municipality in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. The city is situated on the banks of the river Oude Rijn (Utrecht and South Holland), Oude Rijn (Old Rhine ...
,
Netherlands
, Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...
.
Background
Archeon opened as a theme park in 1994, with a focus on demonstrating archaeology to the public. It quickly underwent financial trouble and was on the brink of bankruptcy in 1995. However, it recovered and then evolved into an open air museum, reconstructing various eras from Dutch history. In 2011, the South Holland House of Archaeology was opened, (in Dutch: ''Archeologiehuis Zuid-Holland''). Under the management of Archeon and located at its entrance, it exhibits various archaeological discoveries in the area. In 2015, Archeon was recognised as a formal museum and under the management of the Archeon Museum Park Foundation (in Dutch: ''Stichting Museumpark Archeon'')
Current Activities
The museum features various historical periods of
Dutch history
The history of the Netherlands extends back before the founding of the modern Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1815 after the defeat of Napoleon. For thousands of years, people have been living together around the river deltas of this section of th ...
via archeological reconstructions and
historical reenactment
Historical reenactment (or re-enactment) is an educational entertainment, educational or entertainment activity in which mainly amateur hobbyists and history enthusiasts dress in historical uniforms and follow a plan to recreate aspects of a histor ...
s. Educated actors called ''archeo-interpreters'' inform visitors about the living circumstances at those days. Visitors can engage in activities. Among the periods portrayed are the
Stone Age
The Stone Age was a broad prehistory, prehistoric period during which Rock (geology), stone was widely used to make stone tools with an edge, a point, or a percussion surface. The period lasted for roughly 3.4 million years and ended b ...
, the
Roman times
In modern historiography, ancient Rome is the Roman civilisation from the founding of the Italian city of Rome in the 8th century BC to the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century AD. It encompasses the Roman Kingd ...
and the
Medieval period
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of World history (field), global history. It began with the fall of the West ...
. A restoration yard with original wooden ships from the Roman period, found at
Zwammerdam
Zwammerdam is a village in the Dutch province of South Holland along Oude Rijn river. It is a part of the municipality of Alphen aan den Rijn, and lies about 6 km southeast of Alphen aan de Rijn. The name derives from a dam built in the Rh ...
, is part of the collection. The museum also contains an arena, where reenactments of Roman gladiator fights are held.
Archeon was and is host to several festivals such as the ''Midsummer Fair'', the ''Midwinter Fair'', the ''Roman Festival'' and the
Elf Fantasy Fair.
Collection selection
File:Archeon Zwammerdam2 3.jpg, Restoration yard Roman ships
File:Archeon Schilden helmen Romeinenfestival 2016 fotoCThunnissen.jpg, Roman shields and helmets (replica)
File:2008-08 archeon testudo.JPG, Roman fight technique ''Testudo''
File:2006-05 Archeon apotheek.JPG, Middle-age pharmacy, re-enactment with ''archeo-interpreter''
File:Villa Rijswijk-De Bult copy.jpg, Villa ''Rijswijk''
File:2006-05 Archeon klooster.JPG, Closter
File:Archeon Zingende monniken (5845422363).jpg, Singing monks
File:2006-05 Archeon Archetolk.JPG, Shop Middle Ages, re-enactment with ''archeo-interpreter''
File:Archeon Greenthingz (5845969400).jpg, Middle age youth
See also
*
Netherlands Open Air Museum
The Netherlands Open Air Museum () is a national open-air museum located in Arnhem. It focuses on the culture associated with the everyday lives of ordinary people, and demonstrating the old way of life in the Netherlands.
The park was establishe ...
at
Arnhem
Arnhem ( ; ; Central Dutch dialects, Ernems: ''Èrnem'') is a Cities of the Netherlands, city and List of municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality situated in the eastern part of the Netherlands, near the German border. It is the capita ...
*
Zuiderzee Museum
The Zuiderzee Museum, located on Wierdijk in the historic center of Enkhuizen, is a Dutch museum devoted to preserving the cultural heritage and maritime history from the old Zuiderzee region. With the closing of the Afsluitdijk (Barrier Dam) on M ...
at
Enkhuizen
Enkhuizen () is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland and the region of West-Frisia.
History
Enkhuizen, like Hoorn and Amsterdam, was one of the harbour-towns of the VOC, from where overseas trade ...
*
Zaanse Schans
Zaanse Schans () is a neighbourhood of Zaandam, near Zaandijk, Netherlands. It is best known for its collection of historic windmills and wooden houses that were relocated here from the wider region north of Amsterdam for preservation. From 1961 t ...
at
Zaandam
Zaandam () is a city in the Provinces of the Netherlands, province of North Holland, Netherlands. It is the main city of the municipality of Zaanstad and received City rights in the Netherlands, city rights in 1811. It is located on the river Zaan ...
References
*
External links
*{{Official website, URL=https://www.archeon.nl/index.html?SetLanguage=EN
Open-air museums in the Netherlands
Museums in South Holland
Living museums
1994 establishments in the Netherlands
Alphen aan den Rijn
20th-century architecture in the Netherlands