Spelletjescafé / Game café

Wanna play a really really really old game? Head over to the Spelletjescafé! Here, you can try your hand at the Royal Game of Ur, a 5000 years old ancient board game, and experience how people had fun in the past! Do you prefer more modern play activities? Then try out the video game version of the very same ancient board game.

Want to dive deeper into the world of ancient games? Don’t miss the exciting speed lecture by Dr. Aris Politopoulos & Dr. Walter Crist at 19:30 and 19:45.

Speed Lecture: Inked Ancestors – Tattoos in Archaeology (cancelled)

Did you know that approximately 25% of young Europeans aged 18 to 35 have tattoos? But what about the history of tattooing? The oldest known tattoos, dating back 5,200 years on the mummified remains of Ötzi the Iceman, reveal a rich history. Join the speed lecture of archaeologist Jacob Griffith as he explores ancient tattooing practices, connects them to modern trends, and uncovers the motivations behind this timeless form of art.

Unfortunately this lecture was cancelled.

Restoration experts in action

Two restoration experts from the museum are ready to show their work. Renske Dooijes is busy restoring a plaster cast of the impressive Pergamon Altar from the early 20th century, which was originally built around 180 BC for the Greek gods Athena and Zeus in Greece. And that’s not all! Iris Mahu, a specialist in metal restoration, will give you a close-up view of several bronze archaeological objects using a special microscope. She will also explain the various conservation and restoration techniques for metal.

Speed Lecture: The Past at Play!

People have been enjoying games for centuries! Join archaeologists Aris Politopoulos and Walter Crist on an exciting journey through the past with ancient board games! Discover the origins of the oldest games, who played them, and how (or if!) we can still play them today. Plus, explore how these ancient pastimes have the potential to shape the dynamic world of modern video games.

Bring your newfound knowledge to the Spelletjescafé and let the fun continue!

Workshop: Trash or Treasure?

Are you curious why waste from a cesspit, a combination of a sewer and a trash can, is so valuable to an archaeologist? Then the workshop ‘Trash or Treasure’ is perfect for you! An archaeologist will show you how to create a profile based on modern-day waste.

So, roll up your sleeves and conduct your own archaeological research!

Making History Heard!

Join us on a historical musical adventure with the duo MORO, Spike and Ilja Bakker! Dressed in medieval attire and accompanied by authentic instruments, they bring the sounds of the past to life in the Tempelzaal. Let yourself be enchanted by a variety of international folk songs, sung in both old and new languages!

Spectaculair Light Show

Admire the impressive two-thousand-year-old temple from Egypt in the hall of the National Museum of Antiquities! This beautiful temple, once dedicated to the goddess Isis and later used as a Christian church, has a captivating story to tell.

Be enchanted by a spectacular light show with 3D mapping, bringing the fascinating tale of the temple to life. You definitely don’t want to miss this!