Openluchtmuseum Arnhem - The Open Air Museum You Should Not Miss

The Openluchtmuseum Arnhem is one of the museums that I have always wanted to visit but I kept pushing it off. 'Openlucht' literally translates to 'Open Air'. This is a pretty appropriate description because a large majority of the museum is outdoors which is why I would recommend visiting it on a day when the weather is good.

That being said, the Dutch have a saying 'Jij bent niet van suiker' which is my all time favorite saying. It means that you aren't made of sugar. So in true Dutch style, this park is open in all seasons. There are some parts of the city that aren't accessible and the ticket prices are lower in the offseason. I will talk about it in a bit.

The Openluchtmuseum Arnhem is a great place to learn about the different building styles of the centuries, the history of the Netherlands, its way of life and more. The park is huge and you can easily spend more than a day wandering through it.

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The Openluchtmuseum Arnhem

The Openluchtmuseum in Arnhem is an open air museum that covers the history, architectural styles, the daily life and more about the Netherlands. It is a great snap shot into the country for tourists and it is very educational of locals.

It is incredibly popular among all ages and it spans across quite a large area of land. There is a mix of buildings and large open green spaces which honestly felt just like a Dutch city. The exception being that each building was designed with an educational purporse in mind.

There are plenty of events that are conducted here and you will find that there are a number of spots to sit and catch a bite to eat. Let's not forget about the historic tram which is an activity in itself. One of the things that I like about the Openluchtmuseum Arnhem is that it is a place that you can keep going back to. It is designed to feel like an amusement park and not a museum which is so so cool.

Opening Timings And The Seasons

The opening timings are divided based on seasons. You have the summer season and the low season. The ticket prices are also divided accordingly.

Summer Season

The summer season spans from 28th March to 25th October. During this time the Openluchtmuseum Arnhem will be open from 10am to 5pm.

Low Season

The low season is from 26th October to 27th March. The museum is open from 11 am to 4pm. It is important to note that the visiting hours are reduced. The historical buildings in the museum are shut and the historic tram is not in use during this season. During this season people enjoy the museum as a park.

Ticket Prices For The Openluchtmuseum Arnhem

Even the ticket prices are different according to the season. This is because all the buildings are not accessible during the low season. Irrespective of the season people with a museum card, VriendenLoterij VIP Card and children under the age of 3 years have free access to the park.

The important thing to note is that the Openluchtmuseum Arnhem is very popular which is why it is important to book your tickets in advance.

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Getting To The Openluchtmuseum Arnhem

Generally speaking most people drive to the Openluchtmuseum Arnhem. There is a huge parking lot and the parking cost is 8.5 euros. If you don't have a car and want to rent then consider renting from Discover cars to get the best deal from all the big rental brands.

If you want to use public transport then there is a bus that runs to the Burger Zoo. There's a stop for the Openluchtmuseum on its route.

Things To Do In The Openluchtmuseum Arnhem

There is a lot to do when you visit the museum especially if you visit during the summer months. Make sure that you wear comfortable shoes because there is a lot of walking. If you are traveling with young children, getting a stroller or a sling to carry them in would be advisable.

1. Visit The Historic Buildings

A historic building in the Openluchtmuseum Arnhem

One of the historic buildings in the Openluchtmuseum Arnhem.

There are 100 historic buildings in the park. Each building has its own activity and history behind it. You see and admire the architecture while simultaneously enjoying the exhibits in between. We found a number of them very educational. A couple that the girls really liked was the exhibits on Tuberculosis, living with dementia, the impact of Dutch colonialism on Indonesia, etc.

It is interesting because each of the buildings has history of its own. The displays may or may not be related to it. So its a lot to process in each location. Which is also why you may or may not finish the whole park in a day. We started off at 12pm and kept going till 5pm. We still hadn't seen it all.

2. The Canon Of Dutch History

The Canon of Dutch history can be found just as you enter into the Openluchtmuseum. It is on the lower floor just next to the toilets. This is an indoor museum with a lot of interactive spaces where you can learn about Dutch history. There is a lot going on here and the moment you enter, you will see just what I mean. Unfortunately for us, we arrived here in the last 15 minutes of our trip which means we didn't get to do everything. We intend to go back just to see this part of the museum.

The history of the Netherlands is covered using videos, movies, interactive boards, games and more. If you are thinking about whether the Openluchtmuseum Arnhem is worth visiting when the weather is bad, know that the Canon of Dutch History can keep you occupied for hours! And its all indoors.

3. Cafes, Pubs And Snacks

Outdoor eating area next to many of the snack points.

There are so many places where you can choose to sit and eat. You could catch a beer or a coffee and chill.

Canon Cafe

One of the most cafes is at the entrance and is called the Canon cafe. It is large, spacious and bright. It is a popular spot for people who are visiting the Canon of Dutch History.

Bakery

The bakery is one of the most popular spots for a snack. There is always a line to get in and the aroma is delicious. People buy their snacks and head to one of the picnic benches to have their meal. There is not sitting area in the bakery.

Ijsalon Venezia

Fancy an ice cream on a hot day? Then the Ijsalon Venezia is the place that you stop at. It is right next to the bakery.

Poffertjeskraam

We loved the idea of sitting in the historical Poffertjeskraam. Our kids love poffertjes so that was a no brainer for us. If you haven't had poffertjes before, know that they are a popular Dutch snack and are like tiny pancakes. They are served with a dollop of butter and powdered sugar on the top.

Frietbakkerij

Nothing warms you up quite like Dutch fries. The frietbakkerij is also right next to bakery and it serves up fries and Dutch snacks. It is another very popular spot and people take their snacks to the nearby picnic tables to eat.

Brabants café Budel

If you are travelling with kids then mark Brabants café Budel as your go to stop. It is located right next to the playground. So you can watch your kids while having a drink or catching a bite to eat.

4. Kids Playground

Playground in the Openluchtmuseum Arnhem

The photo here is a little deceptive because the playground is huge.

The kid's playground is amazing and is designed for children for kids of all ages. It is huge. There is also a smaller playground for kids who are younger. There is plenty of space for parents and caregivers to sit and relax while the kids play.

5. Take The Historic Tram

The historic tram in the open air museum in Arnhem

The famous historic tram at one of the stations.

The historic tram is an experience in itself. It runs around the whole park so it makes accessing the park easier. You don't really need it as transport though. It is a fun thing to do while you are there. It also makes it easier if you have smaller children, older people or anyone who has difficulty walking with you.

6. Gardens

There are a number of gardens in the Openluchtmuseum Arnhem. You'll come across these as you wander around the park. You can sit here and have a snack (if you've carried one) or just enjoy the ambiance.

I didn't have high expectations when we visited the Openluchtmuseum Arnhem. We were pleasantly surprised to find that it was a place that we could go back to. That's saying something since we drove all the way down from Groningen to visit it.

Renting A Car

You could also choose to rent a car. I recommend using Discover cars because you can compare across a number of the world renowned car rental agencies like Hertz, Avis, Sixt etc and see which one fits best with the dates you are traveling on.

Some people say that it is cheaper booking through individual companies but I find that it is a lot of hassle figuring out which one gives the lowest rates. And when I finally narrow down on one, Discover Cars usually beats that rate because it doesn't have any hidden additional charges.

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