Spoorwegmuseum

The Spoorwegmuseum, the Dutch railway museum, is housed in the old Maliebaan station in Utrecht, a handsome building from 1874 that was once the terminus of a railway line and has been converted into one of the most popular museums in the country. The station closed to passengers in 1939, and for a time it stood unused, until the museum took it over in the middle of the twentieth century. A major renovation and expansion in the early 2000s reopened the site in 2005, and since then the old station has been the entrance to a large complex of halls, sheds and exhibition spaces.

The museum tells the story of the railways in the Netherlands from the first train in 1839, which ran between Amsterdam and Haarlem, to the modern network. The collection includes locomotives and carriages of many kinds: steam engines from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, diesel and electric trains, royal carriages and sleeping cars, among them a replica of the Arend, the locomotive of the first Dutch train. Visitors can climb aboard many of the vehicles, walk through their interiors and see how passengers of different eras travelled, from wooden benches to luxurious saloons. The sheer size of the machines is impressive, especially the big steam engines.

The museum is built to be interactive, with a strong appeal to children. Rides, simulators, workshops and play areas let young visitors try out the roles of train drivers and signallers, and there are themed areas and a small train that circles part of the site. Displays also explain the effect of the railways on society, how they changed time, trade, travel and daily life, and what the future may bring. A cafe and a shop are on site, and the surrounding area has a garden and open spaces.

Practical details should be checked in advance. The museum is usually open from Tuesday to Sunday, and also on Mondays in school holidays and some public holidays, and it is closed on King's Day, and ticket prices are higher than at smaller museums, with free entry for very young children. Booking online can save time in busy periods. The museum is a short ride from the centre of Utrecht, which offers the Dom Tower, the Oudegracht and the Centraal Museum.

The museum suits families with children, railway enthusiasts and anyone interested in technology and history. Allow three to four hours, and plan for the weekend and school holidays to be busy.