Museum Arnhem

Museum Arnhem is the city's museum of modern and contemporary art, standing on a hill above the Rhine in the Gelderland capital. It is a good starting point for anyone who wants to see the creative side of a city that most people know through the Second World War and the Battle of Arnhem. The museum collects and shows art from the nineteenth century to the present, with an emphasis on Dutch work, and it presents changing exhibitions alongside its permanent displays.

Arnhem has a lively art scene thanks to the ArtEZ University of the Arts, which has a well-known fashion department, and the museum sits comfortably within that context. Exhibitions often include installations, photography, design and fashion, as well as painting and sculpture, and they sometimes invite visitors to take part or consider a theme in an unusual way. The programme changes several times a year, so the visit is different each time, and it is worth checking what is on before you go.

The building itself adds to the experience. Large windows frame views of the river and the city, which gives the galleries a bright and open feel, and the combination of classic architecture and modern displays makes a good setting. The museum also has a cafe and a shop, and the surrounding area includes parkland that is pleasant for a walk after a visit.

Arnhem offers many other attractions that make a day or weekend trip worthwhile. Burgers' Zoo and the nearby Safari park are among the most popular zoos in the country, the Dutch Open Air Museum shows historic buildings and crafts from across the Netherlands, and the Liberation Route follows the story of the 1944 battle and its aftermath, with museums and memorials at Oosterbeek and the bridge at Arnhem. A historic city walk passes churches, shops and old streets that survived the fighting or were rebuilt.

The museum suits art lovers, students and anyone interested in contemporary culture. It is typically closed one day each week, so check the schedule, and consider combining it with a walk along the Rhine. Allow about two hours for the visit, and remember that the programme may include events and talks that are worth planning around. Arnhem’s riverside is a pleasant place to walk afterwards, and the museum Café is a good place for a pause. Inside, galleries are arranged on several levels.