Madurodam
Madurodam is an interactive miniature park in Scheveningen, the seaside district of The Hague. Often called Holland in miniature, it displays the country’s most important landmarks and most interesting buildings in meticulous 1:25 scale, set among greenery and flowers. After a major reconstruction for its 60th anniversary in 2012, the park shifted from a passive way of visiting to an interactive one, with information points and screens presenting films. Visitors can try activities such as loading a container ship, joining a flower auction, working as a lighting technician, or exploring how windmills, water pressure, and Dutch cheese work. Madurodam also features new miniature characters based on real people, along with three themed areas: Old Town, Water Country, and Innovation Island.
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October 2017 © Vysotsky · CC BY-SA 4.0
August 1971 © W. Punt · CC0
July 2006 © Staka · CC BY-SA 4.0
July 2006 © Staka · CC BY-SA 4.0
Identification | |
| Name | Madurodam |
| Type | Miniature park / model town / miniature city |
| Alternative names | Netherlands in miniature; Holland in Miniature; Holland in a Tablet; Madyurodam |
Location and ownership | |
| Charitable function | Has a fund that supports institutions organizing activities for young people |
| Youth council composition | Students from The Hague; in one account, 25 students from regional schools |
| Location | Scheveningen, The Hague, Netherlands |
| Mayor tradition | The mayor is elected by a youth municipal council |
| Current patron | Queen Beatrix |
| Core feature | Characteristic miniature buildings remain the heart of Madurodam |
| Mayor duties | Opening new models and exhibitions |
| Country | Netherlands |
Physical characteristics | |
| Description | A model city or village composed of Dutch buildings, monuments, landscape sections, and technical objects from across the Netherlands |
| Number of objects | more than 700 |
| Number of models | over 300 |
| Area | approximately 18,000 m² |
| Scale | 1:25 |
| Setting | Situated in gardens with greenery and flowers |
Materials | |
| Model materials | Mostly plastic |
| Vegetation | Real plants, mainly small-leaved trees and shrubs |
Technique | |
| Interactive activities | Visitors can load a container ship, take part in a flower auction, work as a lighting technician, check windmill efficiency, observe water force, and learn about Dutch cheese weight |
| Animated features | Many models are animated |
| Moving features | Windmills turn, boats travel through canals, fires are extinguished, and modern trains run through the city |
| Information system | Info points, screens with films, and small television stands provide information |
Appearance | |
| Section themes | Old Town: history, culture, architecture, the royal family, art, and great Dutch people; Country of Water: struggle with water, the sea, ports, and polders; Island of Innovation: trade, transport, agriculture, contemporary architecture, and Dutch projects around the world |
| Thematic sections | Old Town; Country of Water; Island of Innovation |
| Included landmarks | Canal houses in Amsterdam, the cheese market in Alkmaar, the Royal Palace on Dam Square, the Rijksmuseum, the tower of Utrecht Cathedral, and part of the Delta Works hydraulic project |
| Theme | Dutch architecture and notable landmarks |
Historical context | |
| Renovation cost | €8 million |
| Design inspiration | Bekonscot miniature park in Beaconsfield, England |
| Inspiration | Bekonscot Model Village in Beaconsfield, England |
| Initial concept date | 1929 |
| Official reopening | 21 April 2012 |
| Reopening date | 7 April 2012 |
| Renovation year | 2011–2012 |
| Reconstruction | Extensively reconstructed in 2012 |
| Anniversary | 60th anniversary in 2012 |
| Created | 1950 |
| Built | 1952 |
| Opened | July 1952 |
| Construction started | 1950 |
| Construction completed | July 1952 |
| Official opening date | 2 July 1952 |
Creator | |
| Project originator | Bep Boon-van der Starp |
| Architect | Sibe Jan Bouma |
| Designer background | Born in Groningen; director of the Zuiderzeemuseum in Enkhuizen at the time |
Discovery and provenance | |
| Inspiration for | Storybook Land |
| Memorial status | Memorial to the victims of war |
| Dedication | In honor of George Maduro |
| Named after | George Maduro |
| Purpose | Created as a memorial to George Maduro and to generate lasting income for the student sanatorium |
| Associated institution | Dutch Student Sanatorium (Nederlands Studenten Sanatorium, NSS) |
| Original fundraising purpose | To raise funds for the Stichting Nederlands Studenten Sanatorium, a foundation for students with tuberculosis |
| Initial funding | It is believed that the project was financed with initial capital of 100,000 guilders |
| Funding | Built with money donated by the Maduro family |
| Commissioned by | Joshua Maduro and Rebecca Maduro |
| Commemorated person | George Maduro, a Jewish law student from Curaçao and lieutenant in the Dutch resistance who fought against the Nazi occupation and died in Dachau concentration camp in 1945 |
Significance | |
| Cultural meaning | Represents an idealized whole world ('heile Welt') |
| Political connotation | Used in Dutch politics as a metaphor for alleged naivety |
| Reputation | Famous worldwide |
| National significance | Recognized as a site of national importance in the Netherlands |
| Visitor count | About ten million people have visited since its construction |
| Visitor significance | One of the largest tourist attractions in the Netherlands |
Other | |
| Nearby places | The beach and Scheveningen boulevard can be combined with a visit to Madurodam |
| Example of usage | Ayaan Hirsi Ali called former Amsterdam mayor Job Cohen 'burgemeester van Madurodam' because she believed he was too cautious against Islamist extremists |
| Associated people | Ayaan Hirsi Ali; Job Cohen |
| Associated place | Amsterdam |