In this article, I present the miniature village of Madurodaman unusual way to discover the Netherlands.
Here you'll find
- A presentation of madurodam, a miniature village in The Hague
- What you can see and do in this theme park
- How to get to madurodam
- Practical information: prices, opening hours, reservations
- Things to see and do in the area
- And much more!
If you're looking for information about Madurodam, you'll love this article.
Follow the guide!
Madurodam: article summary
Madurodam, a city of miniatures to discover the country
When you come visit AmsterdamIf you're a tourist, it's highly unlikely that you'll have time to tour all the country's regions and monuments. You can, however, visit Madurodam !
This is a theme park featuring miniature replicas (1:25 scale) of the most important places in the Netherlands: Amsterdam with its monuments and canals, windmills in the countryside, the most famous buildings, villages or districts, to discover Dutch culture in a single visit.
It is located in The HagueI'd like to introduce you to its history, what characterizes it and what you can see in Madurodam.
Introducing Madurodam
The in 1952 that Madurodam opened its doors in the city of The Hague. It was financed by the parents of law student George Maduro. Jewish deported and died in the Dachau camp in 1945, now a national hero.
This theme park, designed by Mrs Boon-van der Starp, was intended to raise funds for children suffering from tuberculosis. George Maduro's parents decided to finance it, in exchange for a nomenclature referring to their late son.
Mrs Boon-van der Starp drew her inspiration for this miniature village in Bekonscot, England, opened in 1930 and considered the world's oldest miniature village, and entrusted its construction to architect S.J. Bouma.
Madurodam's first mayor was Princess Beatrix (who became Queen in 1980, until 2013), before this role was entrusted to students from The Hague, who form the park's board of directors.
The Madurodam park was renovated in 2011, with just celebrating 60 yearsand subdivided into several themes, to be discovered today: Water and its importance for the country, The Netherlands as an inspiration for the world and Historic cities.
For me, it's a what to do absolutely if you're going through The Hague!
Facts and figures about this theme park
- It covers an area of 62 630 m²
- Nearly 700,000 visitors go there every year
- Expansions and new zones are being created, with a plan extending to 2030.
- Walt Disney was inspired by Madurodam to create his first Disneyland park in California, which opened in 1955!
What can you see and do in Madurodam?
A visit to Madurodam is a great way to spend time with friends, family or just the two of you. There's plenty to do, and here are just a few of the famous buildings you'll be able to admire in reduced sizeand themes.
What famous buildings can you see in Madurodam?
- Visit Amsterdam Rijksmuseumknown as much for its façade as for its rich collection of works of art
- Visit Port of Amsterdamsung by Brel and a rather chic district today
- Schiphol airport Amsterdam, where you will arrive if you come by plane
- Visit windmills associated with the image of the Netherlands
- Visit fields of flowerslike the ones you can see in the Parc Floral Keukenhof
- Typical canal-side houses, such as those you can admire while taking part in the an Amsterdam cruise
- The main districts of Rotterdam, Groningen, Utrecht or the Hague
- And much more, in 25 times smaller than their original size!
What activities are available?
Madurodam Park does its utmost to make the visit fun, and does it very well. From interactive activities and experiences are offered to children and their parents, including :
- A flight simulationto become a Dutch explorer
- From play areas exterior so that the youngest can let off steam
- A themed zone cheese to find out your weight in cheese!
- An interactive journey through XVIIth centurywith its naval battles and accompanying cannon fire
- The space dedicated to trainsfor rail enthusiasts
- An immersive country history course, to learn more about the creation of the Netherlands
- Visit DJ simulatorto test your ability to move the crowd (of miniature characters!)
- And many other experiences, which may vary according to the season
There's plenty to keep you busy while you learn in this well-designed park. The staff are very attentive, and you can move around freely, or follow one of the themed itineraries on offer.
How to reach Madurodam easily?
Madurodam is located exactly at 45 minutes from Amsterdamat the following address George Maduroplein 1, 2584 RZ, The Hague
You can reach him via :
Visit trainfrom Amsterdam Central Station to the following stops Den Haag Centraal (or Den Haag Hollands Spoor).
From The Hague Central Station, take :
- a bus (line 22 is the 8e stop on the line towards Den Haag Duindorp) to Madurodam
- a streetcar (line 9 is 6e stop on the line to Scheveningen Noord) to Madurodam
You can get there by car from Amsterdam (via the A44/N44, A4) or from The Hague (A12, A4). On-site parking is available for 11 euros/day.
Madurodam: prices, opening hours and practical information
Here's everything you need to know about Madurodam before visiting this miniature village!
Rates and booking
- adult ticket: from 18 euros
- Free for children under 2
Tickets can be purchased online via the official website at the park, or directly at the ticket office on arrival.
Opening hours
It's open every day, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m..
Allow at least 3 hours for a complete overview.
Amenities and useful information
Within Madurodam, you'll find a variety of stores, lunchtime restaurants and lockers for storing your bulkiest belongings.
Strollers are also available for younger guests.
What to see and do in the area?
A day at Madurodam can be a nice excursion from Amsterdam. If you're staying 2 days in the capital, it will certainly be too short, but for an extended stay, it's a very good idea. In the surrounding area, you can :
- Discover The Haguethe country's administrative capital, with its museums, attractive districts and international business center
- Go to nearby beachescan be reached in 30 minutes on foot, 10 minutes on foot bike or transport
- Browse the parks and neighbouring woods, such as the Westbroekpark and its rose garden or the Scheveningse Bosjes
What to do in Amsterdam in 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 5 days, a week?
Whatever the length of your stay, I invite you to download my special Amsterdam guide.
It's free and in PDF format.
All you have to do is tell me below which e-mail address you'd like to receive it at.
EDIT: you can't enter your email?
Take the quiz at the top of this article and you'll be able to register your email address to receive the special Amsterdam guide!
Leave a Reply