Teyler Museum

The Teyler Museum

Standing on the banks of the river Spaarne, just a short distance from the main square, is the Teyler natural history museum. It has the distinction of being the oldest museum in Holland.

Teylers was built in 1784 from funds bequeathed by a local textile baron, Pieter Teyler van der Hulst, who wanted to promote art and science. The executors of his will carried out his wishes by building the Teyler museum.

The Teyler now boasts a fine collection of natural history documents and historical scientific instruments. There are also expositions of fossils and minerals, a large exhibition room, a multimedia room and an educational area. The building itself has recently been renovated and features an impressive neo-classical structure. Inside, the museum also has its own cafeteria and museum shop.