The municipality of Haarlem is allocating 230,000 euros for a major refurbishment of the Archaeological Museum on the Grote Markt in Haarlem. City archaeologist Anja van Zalinge is happy with the money: “We are going to completely redecorate the museum, we are bringing the presentation to this time.”
Van Zalinge is still a little wary: “The city council still has to agree to the proposal, but I have confidence in that. The museum has been in the cellars of the Vleeshal since 1991 and, in fact, there has been a lot of work over the past thirty years. nothing has been done to the facility.
Cornelis
In the small but interesting museum, one of the volunteers shows that major maintenance is really necessary. For example, the large display case in which Cornelis lies has been affected by moisture. “Look, here from this arch in the ceiling it sometimes drips.”
Cornelis is one of the sights in the museum. It is a Haarlemmer who lived around 1450. His bones were found during excavations on the Botermarkt.
Children
The museum is also a small Valhalla for children. Armed with a shovel and a bucket, they can work as archaeologists themselves. A boy who comes to hand in his tools proudly shows his ‘diploma in archaeology’.
“The museum is also really aimed at children,” says the city archaeologist, “It’s nice to see that they often come back in the company of grandpa and grandma to show them the museum.”
The problems with mold and moisture must be dealt with first. “That’s better for our volunteers, we’ll soon be complying with the occupational health and safety rules and the environmental requirements. We’re also making sure that the museum is more accessible. We now have the chance to tackle all of that,” says Anja van Zalinge.
“It’s so much fun discovering the history of the place where you live”
According to the city archaeologist, the upcoming renovation will be the crowning glory of the work. “Other museums adjust their presentation every five years, it took us thirty years. We are going to bring the design up to this time. But we do want to keep the elements that we cherish. We can be proud: with a limited budget we still attract 15,000 visitors annually.”
In addition to refurbishing the display cases, there will also be a new educational space in the Archaeological Museum. Van Zalinge: “We pay extra attention to modern research techniques in archaeology. It’s so much fun to discover the history of the place where you live.”
Schedule
Councilor for Culture Diana van Loenen agrees with those words. “For many schoolchildren in Haarlem, this museum is the first time they come face to face with the history of the city. The museum should be able to move forward for years to come.”
If the city council agrees to the subsidy for the Archaeological Museum, a design will first be made. The museum has to close for a few months for the renovation. If everything goes according to plan, the renovated museum can open again in early 2024.
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