Museum De Schatkamer

Museum De Schatkamer in Venlo is a museum of the city's cultural heritage, in a historic building in the centre. The name means the Treasury, and in the Netherlands such a name is usually given to a place where valuable or historically significant objects are kept. Exhibits change, so it is worth checking with the local tourist office before making plans.

Venlo is a city on the Meuse in the north of the province of Limburg, close to the German border, and it has been a trading and fortified town since the Middle Ages. Its position at a river crossing made it strategically important, and it was besieged and occupied many times over the centuries. As a result, the layers of history are many, and the objects collected in the city's museums range from archaeological finds to religious art, civic regalia and everyday items. Archaeology in the region reveals traces of Roman settlement along the river, and the medieval town grew out of that tradition.

A heritage museum of this type typically arranges its collection in order of time, so that visitors can follow the growth of the town from the earliest settlements through the medieval period, the era of sieges and the modern age. Typical items include pottery, tools, coins, weapons, documents and paintings, along with objects from the church life of the city. Such a visit usually takes an hour or less and gives a good basis for exploring the rest of the centre.

The centre of Venlo has a number of other sights that fit well with a museum visit. The Sint-Martinuskerk, with its tall tower, dominates the town, and the Renaissance town hall on the Markt is one of the most elegant buildings. Remains of the city walls, the Venlo City Museum and Kasteel de Horst, a moated castle north of the city, add more. The riverside promenade offers views of the Meuse.

The museum suits visitors with an interest in local history. Because opening hours and access are uncertain, check in advance. Combine the visit with a walk through the old streets and a stop at one of the cafes around the Markt.