MUSEUMMagazine
English
Our museum guide is growing. Information is being added and checked by museums. Submit additional information
Museums / Leiden

South Holland · History

Rijksmuseum Boerhaave: science through its instruments

Rijksmuseum Boerhaave in Leiden tells the history of science. Instruments and other objects show how people investigated questions and tried to make knowledge visible.

Plan your visit ↗

Understanding an instrument

Start with what a device was meant to measure, show or investigate. Then look at its parts and the explanation. That order helps you see an unfamiliar instrument as more than just a complicated or handsome object.

Comparing different periods

A collection spanning several centuries shows widely differing methods of research side by side. Compare which actions were needed and what information an instrument could provide. Avoid assuming that an older object is merely a lesser version of something new.

Mondays too, but check

Current visitor listings mention daily opening, while older information gives Monday closing. Check that day and public holidays directly in particular. The library and reading room are accessible by appointment only and are not part of ordinary museum walk-in access.

Before you go

Check Monday and public-holiday opening; a library visit requires a separate appointment.

Sources

This first edition has been compiled from collected museum information. Not all of the information has yet been confirmed by the museum. Viewing tips are by the editorial team. The sources used are listed below.

  1. Museum Boerhaave — source 1

    Source reference supplied; independent source check still needed. Research reference supplied; source content and claims still to be verified independently.

  2. Museum Boerhaave — source 2

    Source reference supplied; independent source check still needed. Research reference supplied; source content and claims still to be verified independently.

  3. Museum Boerhaave — source 3

    Source reference supplied; independent source check still needed. Research reference supplied; source content and claims still to be verified independently.

Is something incorrect or missing? Let the editorial team know →

Sections

Museum mapDiscover museumsHomeMuseum storiesThe art of lookingWorld & objectBehind the scenesWhat’s on