If you are as lucky as I am then you must have read about Alice. The poor girl who felt down the rabbit hole to find a whole new wonderland. Do you know what motivated Lewis Carrol to write this novel? It’s because he started realizing that children of today are gradually forgetting to dream. And do you know why is this important for you to read this travel blog? It’s because I will tell you the secret of how to reach to the wonderland. No, not in your dream but in your very real World. It’s here at Madurodam, a very small theme park in the administrative capital of Netherlands. Remember the part from the story where Alice grew so much that she exploded the Rabbit’s house? Now, look at the picture below! Similar, right?
“Would you like to go back to be a child again?“
If you ask any adult this question, 90% of the chance is that you’ll get an affirmative answer. Now, if there is a place which gives you chance to feel like a kid again, would you let it go? Or, will you take the chance?
I don’t know if you have heard about Madurodam earlier or not but if you do, don’t make the same mistake we did. Don’t ever think that it’s a place only for kids. Sure, the kids will enjoy running around but the as an adult, you will appreciate it much much more. It’s like the Disney animations like Soul, Finding Nemo, Lion King or Monster Inc etc. At a first glance, they look like are for kids but without the adult mindset, you’ll never being able to appreciate it fully. Yes, Madurodam is a miniature park. But there’s something so magical about wandering past the models, peering down at those, and trying to take pictures as if you’re a Giant.
Madurodam is one of a kind open-air theme park where you can find many famous landmarks of Holland on a 1:25 scale. From Dutch bridges, canals, windmills and major landmarks all around the country, here you will be able to experience the authentic and rich history of the country through amazing models. The miniature city was named after a Jewish law student from Curaçao who fought the Nazi occupation forces as a member of the Dutch resistance. George Maduro died at Dachau concentration camp in 1945. Since then more than ten million visitors have come here to witness the development of the rich heritage over a passage of time.
Madurodam: When To Visit
If you ask me which season is the best to visit Madurodam then my answer would be any season. Yes, I generally recommend a very specific season for a place. But Madurodam is an exception. Yes, summer or Winter or Spring or Fall doesn’t make much difference for Madurodam. However, what affects is rain. As Madurodam is a complete open air musuem, a rainy day will ruin your experience. But you can very well visit Madurodam on a cloudy day.
Coming to what time of the day to visit, try to visit as early as possible. Madurodam opens at 11AM and try to reach there by then. For the rest of the day, it does not make much difference. While you book tickets for Madurodam online, you can choose dated ticket or a ticket without a date. When you book a ticket with date, you need to choose a timeslot. Does it mean you need to go to that time only? Hell, No.
Literally no one checks what time your dated ticket is. I am telling this from my personal experience. Plus, We visited between the first and second wave of COVID. Restrictions should be more back then but it wasn’t. The representative at the counter simply will scan your QR and let you in.
So, what does it mean? You can book your ticket for any time slot on a date and visit at any other timeslot. Plus, you can spend as many hours you want inside. So, if you are late, you have to face a large crowd. But, unlike Giethoorn, Madurodam is not that touristy. So, book a ticket for 11AM in the morning and do come at 11AM for the best experience.
Online Booking Link
You can book online ticket for Madurodam at their official website. Follow this link to book directly. You can book a ticket with date and timeslot or without any date. Please remember that ticket without date is more pricey. Also, when booking a dated ticket, stick to the timeslot you are booking. If others are breaking a rule, your responsibility is to correct them, not to follow them.
How To Reach Madurodam
To reach Madurodam, you have to come to Den Haag Central station. From Den Haag Central, there are two options. Either you have to take Bus#22 or Tram #9. The Tram journey is faster (11 minutes vs 17 minutes) but more crowded. If traveling by Tram, you need to get down at Madurodam (Noord). For Bus, you need to get down at Madurodam (Zuid). The tram stop is very close to the entrance while you need to walk about 4-5 minutes if coming by Bus.
The Hague (Den Haag) Central is the administrative capital of Holland. So, accessibility of the centre is almost from everywhere of Netherlands. From Haarlem and Schiphol Airport, there are direct connections to The Hague. However if you are coming from Amsterdam Central, it’s better if you come to Leiden first. Then take the intercity to The Hague. Direct journey from Amsterdam to The Hague takes about 25 minutes more. For exact planning, please use this website.
As you arrive at the entrance, there are a couple of sculptures to admire at. The very first one is that of Lemuel Gulliver. If you’ve read the novel Gulliver’s Travels then just by looking at the picture you’d understand what this photo is about. If you don’t know the story then I urge you to read it before your visit to Madurodam.
Photo Courtesy: Wikimedia
If you are unaware of the story, you can read it here. In the photo, You can see the Entrance and Exit of Madurodam. Walk through the entrance and flash your ticket (Print out or in your phone). They will give you a free map and a physical card in exchange. Remember to return the card while you are taking your exit. What the card is for? More on that in the next section.
What To Do in Madurodam
The park has been divided into multiple distinct sections, each displaying a theme of its own. These are
VindingRjik – It showcases how the Netherlands has become a source of inspiration which mainly focuses on design, entertainment and Dutch architecture combined with latest innovation.
StedenRjik – This section focuses on the old town centers, local culture, heritage buildings. This is the section where most of the landmarks are located.
WaterRjik – This is the most fun part. It tells a lot about the effect of water. This section has lots of exciting activities mainly for kids. But beware, you’ll get a little wet.
Wereldkijker – It is dedicated to the many accomplishments of the Dutch, highlighting what transformed their small country into a significant force.
Just as you cross the ticketing section, you will encounter this cute little miniature with a drawing in the backdrop. Yes, the background of my wife is a painting. The house represents the home of George Maduro at Curaçao. Feeling jealous?
Keep this to your right, walk straight and take a right turn. You will find a bisected route. The one on right goes to a closed door and a queue and the one on left goes straight to the park. Well, you know there is no shortcut in life. So, even if it’s possible to take the left to go straight to the park, you will miss a lot if you don’t join the queue. Why? More on that later. Keep reading on…
Just as you come out of the door to the other side or if you have taken left and bypassed the door, you will reach this spot with a grand view of the entire Madurodam. Yes, you read it correct. The entire Madurodam can be clicked in a 16mm Full frame Lens. It is that small. But trust me, you need more than a couple of hours to explore the sight.
Remember the card given to you at the ticket counter? Time to swap that now. There are plenty of interactive screens on which you need to swap it. Why? It’s because you can watch short movies explaining about highlights of Dutch history and culture. That makes Madurodam a very educational place as you will come to know about the history behind many buildings in the Netherlands. That’s why exploring Madurodam takes time. It’s not only about Witnessing, it’s also about exploring.
The accuracy of the buildings are top notch. If someone takes a 1:1 macro photo of the architecture alone, it’s literally impossible to differentiate which one is real. No wonder why kids love this place. The monuments feel much to their level so they can enjoy the details much more than they do while visiting the actual ones.
Look at the tall tower. If 1:25 replica is that tall, just imagine how big the actual is. What’s this place? I won’t tell you. You have to visit Madurodam to know about it. There are so many other churches and cathedrals in the Madurodam. If I upload all the pictures, the page will be super slow to load.
I have written a separate article on visiting multiple Tulip fields in Holland for free. Here in Madurodam, in some season you can even witness Keukenhoff tulips as well.
Here, You can even witness the famous Dam Square of Amsterdam, Windmill of Zaanse Schans, Peace Palace of The Hague, miniature of Johan Cruyff Arena, Helpoort, Binnenhof, Erasmus bridge of Rotterdam and the world famous Anne Frank Museum.
Look at those airplanes, the sprinters and the intercity express as well. Wait, there is Thalys too. How exciting!
I lost count on how many times we have witnessed the trains passing by. Did we only watch those passing by? No, we literally clapped as they were passing by. It’s impossible for you to understand in my pictures but the detail in the miniature is mind-blowing. If somebody takes a static photo using a Macro lens at ground level, it’s impossible for you to tell the difference between a real one and this one.
The amazing part is the replica of Schiphol airport. If you peek through, you’ll find the gates, the lounge and even the cafeteria. However, what struck me the most is the luggage belt. I mean how can someone craft something so small yet so delicate.
See the lines caused by the wheels of the air plane? That’s because the planes move giving you a feeling of a mock runway. And no, it does not display KLM only. I remember Transavia and some other airlines are also on display.
My advice to you will be not just to walk around the miniatures of Madurodam but also take part in the free laid out activities. Specifically there is one where you will learn how the locks operate at the canals. If you visit in a group, there is a fantastic activity where you need to extinguish fire of a boat. Also, I have heard that there is a cheese scale where you can check how many blocks of cheese are you equivalent to but I have not seen any. However, don’t forget the DJ booth. Here you can try out your tune mixing skill and watch the miniature people dance at the rhythm.
Another two fun experiences are flying an airplane and driving a Sprinter. Both are just opposite of one another. While the activity of flying an airplane looked very easy at the beginning, I found that kids are struggling to maintain a certain elevation. In the activity where you can run a sprinter train simulates the experience of how the drivers see the surroundings. You also need to honk after a little while.
Show About Brief History At The Entrance
After validating your ticket at the counter, they will instruct you to go right. After crossing George Maduro’s miniature house, you need to take another right turn. There you will find two routes. One leading to a closed door. Another one going past that door to somewhere open. The open route directly goes to the theme park and you can start exploring immediately. The other one forces you to wait in a queue and when the door automatically opens, you can enter and watch a free 6 minutes long show. Is the Show and the Wait worth it? YES!!
The show mainly focuses about George Maduro, a Dutch fighter of WW II who ultimately died in the Concentration camp. To value his honor, his parents decided to build Madurodam as a war memorial. Back then the idea was to inspire the Dutch public at a time when the country was rebuilding itself. On 2nd July 1952, the Madurodam opened its gate for the public. Today, it collects an enormous amount of charity for the good cause of the children. The official statement for the same can be found in this link.
I forgot if there was a Dutch version but we attended the show in English. Even if you are not a fond of History, you will surely be moved by the last minute of it. It’s much more than a show. It is like a short film. I highly recommend you to watch this before your exploration of the theme park begins.
Flying Dutchman
From the swamps of Florida, USA to the park at Madurodam, The infamous Douglas DC-3 arrived its homeland in multiple parts. The aircraft was ‘dusted’, disassembled and transported to Europe in parts – by land, sea and air. Today this true to life flight experience is a tribute to 100 year old KLM, the only airline in the world that still flies under its own name.
The Official advertisement says “A flight in The Flying Dutchman goes beyond flying“. That’s true. I never heard a Dutch DJ inside an aircraft. As soon as the engines start running, the windows become a screen and narration begins exactly like flight announcements. The unique flight simulates the screen as if it’s flying over the Amsterdam canals, makes you dive into Escher’s masterpieces, going past the huge container ships in the port of Rotterdam. But, keep in mind, there is no 4D like feeling. It’s just watching someone playing Flight simulation game.
The authorities make sure that only few people get into the aircraft and enjoy the sound and light experience. They form a queue for the rest and even if the queue gets quite long, the wait time is not that much. The walkway from the queue to the aircraft is very unique. It feels like you are taking a part in WW II.
Do I recommend the flying dutchman show? Well, for kids – Yes but for adults – No. I thought it will be something like a 4D experience but it was pretty flat. Neither the visuals nor the audio was upto the mark. If you have some spare time and the queue is not that big, of course you can join in but if you decide not to join, it’s completely okay. I respect their technology and the hard work but the end result, to be honest is not so great.
Explore Nearby Madurodam
You are coming to Madurodam from The Hague (Den Haag in Dutch) anyway. So, it’s always a good idea to club the spots of The Hague in the same day. Read my article here for a complete guide to The Hague day trip. It includes Scheveningen beach, International Court of Justice, Binnenhoff and the square.
I would encourage you to start early if you plan to cover both Madurodam and The Hague on the same day. The Hague along with its shopping street itself is a day tour. Add 3 more hours for Madurodam including transit. So, start early. Start your day at Madurodam, then take a tram to The Hague and follow my guide.
Useful Insider Tips
Madurodam is a place mostly visited by locals and temporary residents. For tourists with very limited time, it is not their first preference as well. However that makes it less crowded and more attractive for those who venture to visit it. At first glance, Madurodam may look like a tiny place but you need to know several things. Read on to know many useful tips before your visit.
- Near the exit gate, there is a free washroom facility which is super clean. Make use of it.
- Just beside the washroom, there is a souvenir shop. But we found it much costlier than the ones at The Hague or Zaanse Schans.
- Remember to watch the opening video which is a little de-route from the actual one. The door is auto operated every 5-10 minutes. Many visitors will simply skip the door and proceed to the actual open field. Don’t do that. Wait, if the queue is long.
- We had a doubt if riding the flying Dutchman is free or if a separate ticket is there. It’s completely free and operators are super friendly. Don’t be afraid to stand in the line alone. We did that.
- Madurodam is fantastic for kids. There are so many activities at the park. However, there is a chance to get wet. So carry an extra dress.
- You will get the opportunity to look how the railway tracks look from the drivers cabin. Also, You can drive a sprinter virtually. Don’t miss this opportunity.
- There is also an opportunity to fly an airplane. It’s not super easy to balance the aircraft mid-air. It’s meant for kids but I found that super exciting.
- Bring some spare coin with you. You need to activate some shows by inserting 10 or 20 cents. Those are fun to watch. If you don’t have any spare coin, wait for someone else to activate that.
- Remember that you can buy tickets with or without date. Without date tickets are flexible but costs almost 5 euro more. If you are a tourist with very limited date, it makes no sense to buy a ticket without fixed date time.
- Make sure to book in advance. Although it’s rare that tickets will be sold out but ticket cost is more if you are trying to book for today or tomorrow.
- Entrance to the Madurodam is not included in the iAmsterdam pass, but it is included in the Holland Pass.
- In case you need it, you can borrow Wheelchair at free of cost.
- Do you know that if you accompany a wheelchair users, you can gain free entry.
- You can request a braille map of Madurodam from the library service.
- There are free kennels for your dog but make sure to do prior reservation.
- And Last but not the least – Don’t just visit Madurodam to know what all you can expect in entire Holland. The miniatures are excellent but the real ones have their own vibes. My recommendation would be to visit an actual castle, a real shopping street, an authentic cheese market and finally a Windmill. But if time permits, come to Madurodam to appreciate the Art.
Traditionally you may believe that visiting a museum is an ideal choice when you want to appreciate Art and Sculpture. Madurodam, although known as a miniature park deserves a serious attention. Specifically I like places which are down to Earth and Madurodam is spot on. Everyone knows Amsterdam for Van Gogh, Anne Frank and Rijks Museum. But the miniature work at Madurodam is nothing short of excellent. I thought for more than a year if Madurodam would be worthy of a visit being an adult but after coming back, I can super highly recommend this place.
Readers, what do you think of Madurodam? Have you visited it already? How is your feedback about this place? Let me know in the comment section. If you are planning to visit, does this article help you? In case you have any more question, please feel free to use the comment box. Till next time, doei doei.