The Railway Museum is busy redesigning the outside area. The layout of the playground, the route of the children’s train and the location of the distribution entrance will be adjusted. The aim of the redesign is to make the site more sustainable and greener and to increase the experience for visitors. There is more space for greenery and more ‘railway’ elements are added such as rails, sleepers, ‘train heads’ and historical statues. The work has now started and the festive reopening is on Saturday, May 18.
The existing situation has existed since 2005 and was due for renewal after 18 years. Audience research by the museum showed that the smallest visitors needed more play options. The outdoor area is busy on nice days, which is why the museum strives for a climate-adaptive space with more greenery, more opportunities for shade and better drainage. In the new situation, the outdoor space becomes a place where there is more to discover, do and learn. On busier days, the new design ensures better distribution in the museum, giving everyone a more pleasant and relaxed experience. The design of the renovated rear area is by OKRA Landscape Architects, the work is carried out by Rots Maatwerk. The project is made possible by a contribution from the Stichting Goede Doelen Nh1816 Insurance.
Image collection
The museum’s special sculpture collection will be given a more prominent place in the renovated rear area. The images that can be found there are by well-known artists such as Joop Hekman, Jo Uiterwaal and Mari Andriessen. The statues of Hekman and Uiterwaal were placed in the 1950s at the stations of Eindhoven and Nijmegen. In 1998 they were moved to the Railway Museum. Andriessen’s images come from the roof of the Utrecht CS station, which was demolished in the 1970s. The Kruis Blauwkapel, the level crossing at the railway junction of the same name, which was removed in 2022, will also be included in the design. This was one
of the last crossings in the Netherlands where the tracks are perpendicular to each other. Eye-catchers will be two discarded train heads that will serve as play equipment.
Children’s train
The most popular attraction in the back area is the children’s train. This train was at the end of its lifespan and is being replaced. At the same time, the route will be adjusted so that visitors no longer have to cross the railway to the De Vuur Trial attraction. The new playground is accessible via a challenging climbing bridge, the old situation with a water basin and boats has disappeared.
