In the Hof van Nederland, the city's and therefore the country's history comes to life in various ways: in objects, films, sound, virtual display cases and digital archive books. Based on important historical moments in Dutch history that took place in Dordrecht, you will learn more about the origins of our freedoms.
Hof van Nederland is for everyone
Whether you like history or are interested in social themes such as freedom and tolerance. Be surprised and inspired, there is plenty to see and do.
'Free Spirits' Astrid Sy, Raven van Dorst and Kiza Magendane associated with the museum are happy to show you around their audio tour. They challenge you to look differently at the different stories in the museum and to consider what freedom means to you personally. Each from their own professional knowledge, life experience and view of freedom. You can choose a Free Spirit yourself, each with their own view on the stories told in the court.
The building and the collection
The building has been through a lot over the centuries, so it likes to tell its own story. Through colored listening horns that can be found everywhere in the museum, you can hear more about the beautiful place and former functions of the medieval building. And there is no shortage of unique objects; Hof van Nederland is a Canon Museum and you notice that: Mary of Burgundy, William of Orange, Johan and Cornelis de Witt; they all played an important role in the history of the Netherlands and influenced our freedoms.
The collection tells the story about our freedoms based on historical events such as the First Free States Assembly, The Synod of Dordrecht, the murder of the De Witt brothers and the Second World War. But it is also about how we in the Netherlands now deal with our freedoms by questioning visitors and making them think about history and the present.