Today I visited the museum Natura Docet in the town of Denekamp. This museum is dedicated to the history of nature and is the oldest in its kind in The Netherlands. The museum was founded in 1911 by the local teacher Bernink. Already in 1921 he needed to move to another location because of the growing collection.
“Natura Docet” means “Nature teaches” and that is exactly what this museum is about.
The last time I visited this museum was in 1991. Since then a lot has changed. I talked a bit with one of the employees of the museum and they have big plans for the future.
The museum holds a huge collection of fossils, stones and minerals. I really like the way they show all these in these beautiful wooden displays. They give an attractive atmosphere to the rooms. Also that you touch many of the bigger items is something I like and something I have not seen that often.
Through boards full with pictures extra information is given about what can be seen in the museum. This is in my opinion one of the most important tasks of museums like this, to teach… and create understanding that the nature out there needs our help.
It was good to see that there were so many younger people there.
The museum also own a big collection of stuffed animals. Nowadays this collections doesn’t grow anymore (apart from every now and then a gift), because stuffed animals is not an modern way of displaying animals anymore. But what in the past is collected is still to see and I think that is good. It would be a waste to not show it anymore.
Same can be said for the collection of animals on aqua fortis. Maybe it is not what some people want to see, but this collection is truly unique.
I was nice to be at this museum again. And I learned things again, so this visit was also useful. I will keep an eye on their website to see if they may have an interesting exhibition in the near future, because then I surely will go there again.
I have some more pictures of my visit at Natura Docet.
(Credit photo’s: Rob)
Oh my. Must have been at least 30 years ago I was there. I think I have to go back there some day soon :-).