Visit to Thermenmuseum Heerlen shows very strong growth
Author: Thermenmuseum
Photography: Thermenmuseum
Restoration and series of innovations bear fruit
The renewed Thermenmuseum Heerlen is on the rise! The visit to the fully restored Roman bathhouse is showing very strong growth. In July of this year, compared to last year, three times as many people visited the Oldest Stone Building in the Netherlands. In August the number of visitors doubled. And in September, the “Night Watch of Dutch archaeology” welcomed 50 percent more visitors.
In total, through October of this year, well over 11,000 people visited the museum. That is the same number as last year, but earlier this year the museum was closed for three months (from 13 March to 8 June) due to national Covid-19 measures.
Thorough restoration
The greatly increased interest follows a thorough restoration of the bathhouse. Among other things, 150 damaged areas and hundreds of metres of walls have been repaired. With coloured gravel, various elements such as the colonnade, small shops or the workplace of the physician have been emphasised. The glass façades of the museum building have been darkened to present everything in the best possible way. Furthermore, a 96-metre-long wooden walkway with glass viewing panels has been installed across the site, allowing visitors to stand right above the cold and hot water baths, underfloor heating, swimming pool, massage rooms and shops. A new audio tour through the bathhouse, in combination with projections in the space, completes the experience.
Ultra-realistic exhibition
In addition, since 9 October, the ultra-realistic exhibition “Experience 400 years of Roman bathing” has been on display in the museum. The exhibition uses modern technologies, in which the visitor stands in a circular room and, thanks to 360-degree video images, has the feeling of standing “live” in the bathhouse. The technology used for this is the same as that used, for example, in the new Disney series The Mandalorian.
Fun family tour
Meanwhile, a new “crowd-puller” is in preparation. In response to visitor requests, an informative and, above all, very enjoyable family tour is being created to allow (grand)parents with (grand)children aged 7 and older to discover and experience the museum. The tour is called Lucius & Amaka (after two characters from Roman times who are “brought to life” in the museum) and will be launched soon. For children aged 4–7 there are many fun craft activities, such as making and painting the little jug of potter Lucius.
Enthusiastic reactions
Visitors are very enthusiastic about the series of innovations. “A museum masterpiece” and “This is a jewel in the crown of museums in the Netherlands” are some of the many praises the museum is receiving on social media.
For more information, see the museum website: www.thermenmuseum.nl
This is a jewel in the crown of museums in the Netherlands—
