From Dinosaurs to Dreamcatchers: Museumnacht Kids Haarlem
At Teylers Museum, Roman Moonen builds a dinosaur the size of a chicken, right among the fossils. A few streets over, Molen de Adriaan tells the story of a miller who struck a deal with a fairy: endless wind for his windmill, in exchange for looking after 150 Shetland witches. On Saturday 17 October 2026, between 5pm and 9pm, 18 museums and cultural spots in Haarlem open their doors for Museumnacht Kids, just for kids.
The theme is dreams. A ticket costs €9.50 per child aged 3 to 12 and €9.50 per adult; kids aged 0 to 2 get in free. That one ticket gets you in everywhere, all evening. From building dinosaurs to making your own dreamcatcher, here's what's on offer.
Dino Demo at Teylers Museum: a dinosaur the size of a chicken
Roman Moonen built a moving dinosaur for his school research project and shows it off among the fossils. He explains what dinosaurs might really have looked like, with skin, feathers or fur. For kids aged 3 to 12, until 8.30pm.
Compsognathus, but make it real.
Knetterende Vonken: watching sparks fly at the Grand Electrifying Machine
Kids aged 7 and up feel the tension build until a spark jumps. This one also stops at 8.30pm, half an hour earlier than the rest of the programme.
Static electricity, but make it spectacular.
Droomspeurtocht: hunting for Judith Leyster's dreams
At the Frans Hals Museum you hunt for the dreams of artists in its own collection. Painter Judith Leyster once dreamed of getting the same chances as the male painters of her time. For kids aged 3 to 12.
A treasure hunt with a real history lesson hidden inside.
Hiding at the Corrie ten Boomhuis
Kids aged 7 to 12 feel what it was like to hide during the Second World War, in and around the house's original hiding place.
History you feel in your own body.
Escape Game: Operation Dodo, with a secret time machine
Kids aged 10 to 12 step into a time machine and rescue animals in this escape game that vanished from the Netherlands without a trace. The clock counts down, from three to zero.
Save the dodo before time runs out.
Printing cards on nineteenth-century presses
Guided by the Grafisch Atelier Haarlem, you work with letter cases and ink rollers to print your own dreamy little card. For kids aged 3 to 12.
A two-century-old craft, mastered in one evening.
FEEST! With Jaapje and Cajanus: the smallest person and the biggest giant
Two puppets who play music in short quarter-hour sessions and talk about their dreams. For kids aged 3 to 12, several times that evening.
Small, big, and both with a story to tell.
Kwis dit niet?!: the family quiz from three Haarlem museums
A quiz for kids aged 8 and up, developed by three Haarlem museums together.
Do you actually know, or are you just guessing?
Find the hidden word and earn your tracker's diploma
Kids aged 3 to 12 search for a hidden word and earn a real diploma for it.
Officially certified tracker, in one evening.
Archaeologist for one night
Kids dig as an archaeologist for one night only, for kids aged 7 to 12.
Turns out you can dig at night too.
A dream of a windmill: the story of 150 Shetland witches
Kids hear the story of a miller who struck a deal with a fairy: endless wind for his windmill, in exchange for looking after 150 Shetland witches. For kids aged 3 to 12.
Wind power, with a catch.
Art Battle: Dream Monster, a drawing battle against the clock
Kids aged 10 to 12 draw their own dream monster in quick rounds.
Who draws the fastest monster of the night?
Practical information: shuttle buses and tips
A free shuttle bus runs between the venues, using historic buses from the NZH Vervoersmuseum. Just hop on with your wristband. The buses run a fixed loop past four stops, roughly every 15 minutes: Gedempte Oude Gracht, Verwulft, Nassaulaan and A. Hofmanweg at the NZH Vervoersmuseum itself.
You swap your e-ticket for a wristband at one of six exchange points: Bibliotheek Haarlem Centrum, Teylers Museum, de Hoofdwacht, Kunst Centrum Haarlem, Museum van de Geest and the Noord-Hollands Archief. Only the library is open during the day, from noon to 10pm. The other five points only open at 5pm. So if you'd rather skip the evening queue, just grab your wristband at the library earlier that day.
Eating early? Nolita Pizza on Lange Veerstraat and Rigatoni Pastabar on Tempeliersstraat give 20 percent off between 4pm and 6pm when you show your ticket. During the evening itself, there are also small food spots at, among others, the Frans Hals Museum, Teylers Museum and Verwey Museum.