Railway Museum in Utrecht

Sunday 4 March 2018, 13:31 by Michelle Peeters | 7,013 views | 9 comments

This article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.

If you are looking for a fun photography location and a day out, the Railway Museum in Utrecht might be a good idea. It has an extensive collection of old railway equipment, displayed in a wonderful 'things were more romantic in the past' atmosphere. It is a great place to spend a day walking around with your camera.

Even if you are not interested in trains, photographing here will give you new insights into detail, object and industrial photography. The old carriages and locomotives are crying out to be photographed, and are unique in Dutch railway history. A real photographic recommendation!

You can take wide shots from the high footbridge, as well as close-ups and detail shots. As in many museums, the light is not always ideal, so knowing your camera settings is useful if you want to achieve a good result.

Maliebaan Station

The Railway Museum, formerly the Dutch Railway Museum (NSM), has been based since 1954 in Maliebaan Station, built in 1874 on the Eastern Railway in the city of Utrecht.

Utrecht Maliebaan Station is a station on the Hilversum to Lunetten railway line. Until the end of 2012, the station had two tracks beside an island platform along the through track, and a terminating track from the direction of Lunetten.

Because the tracks towards Lunetten were removed, Maliebaan Station effectively became a terminus, with only one track still in use, accessible from the direction of Blauwkapel. In 2002, director Paul van Vlijmen decided that the museum should undergo another major renovation.

After the station building from 1874 closed in September 2003, it was completely stripped out and has now largely been restored to its 19th-century state. It was supplemented with the Royal waiting room from Den Haag Staatsspoor station, which was demolished in 1973.

What can you see?

You enter a beautiful station hall with marble floors, magnificent chandeliers and a Royal waiting room. In the hall you will find the ticket office, where you can buy entrance tickets and a parking ticket. It is also possible to order tickets online, but these are not valid indefinitely. Read the conditions on the website.

These are four main attractions, four worlds in which trains take centre stage.

World 1: The Great Discovery

This is an audio tour. The journey begins with a lift that gives you the feeling that you are going down. When you step out of the lift, you find yourself in the year 1800. You walk through an English mining village, and through one of the windows you can see a model of the world-famous steam locomotive The Rocket.

As you continue walking, you pass Michael Longdridge's drawing office. He was the designer of De Arend. In a workshop, you can see how the carriages are made. The smell of wood makes it feel completely real.

At the end of the tour, you arrive at a square where you can admire the steam locomotive De Arend, the first steam locomotive in the Netherlands. There is a handcart in the square where you can return your headphones and audio guide.

World 2: Dream Journeys

Here you travel to distant places and can enjoy shows about the Orient Express in the theatre. There are three shows, Annabel, Zacharov, Collette and Fifi, which you can visit several times a day. The starting times can be found in various places throughout the museum.

World 3: Steel Monsters

You enter Grandpa Gommers' attic room. He has created his own railway museum. You see Grandpa together with his grandson. Grandpa explains all kinds of things because his grandson wants to give a talk about the railways.

At the back of the attic, you can go through a door. An employee takes you along in a small vehicle, after which you go on an interesting but also exciting ride past all kinds of railway-related professions, such as a signalman, pointsman and engine driver.

World 4: The Workshop

There are dozens of locomotives, carriages and trains here. You can explore them at your own pace.

Especially for children

You can go outside near the restaurant, where you will find the Jumbo Express. Children can take a ride on it. There are also slides, and you can take a boat to the lighthouse island.

What else can you find in the museum?

Model train loft: unique model trains. Open depots: these depots contain tokens, passenger items, paintings and drawings. Restaurant: here you can get something to eat or drink. There are lots of tables where you can also eat food you have brought with you.

Outside: signal box, water tower and an original turntable for a steam locomotive.

Permanent exhibition: Loaded Trains

This exhibition focuses on the transports of Jewish people to the extermination camps during the Second World War.

This permanent exhibition is housed in and around a luggage van that was found in Romania.

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About the author

Michelle Peeters is fotografe en oprichter van DeuxBleus Fotografie. Michelle herkent het bijzondere in het gewone en het gewone in het bijzondere. Ze heeft zich nooit willen specialiseren en is daardoor van alle markten thuis.

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9 comments

Yannick wrote on Monday 5 March 2018 at 11:57 | reply
Yes, all very nice unless you have what they consider a too-professional camera. Then they’re constantly on your case that you’re not allowed to take photos for professional purposes and that you need to have written permission beforehand.
Translated from Dutch.

Michelle Peeters wrote on Monday 5 March 2018 at 16:04 | reply
@Yannick: that's less fun indeed... Apparently they didn't see my Leica mirrorless camera as something you could take ‘professional’ photos with. Or I just got lucky. I'll look into exactly how it works!
Translated from Dutch.

Yannick wrote on Monday 5 March 2018 at 19:36 | reply
@Michelle Peeters: and that's why I'm also happy with my Leica M system now, small and what comes out of it is stunning.
A D800 with a 24-70 and SB900 on it was apparently too professional in their eyes.
Translated from Dutch.

Michelle Peeters wrote on Monday 5 March 2018 at 20:32 | reply
@Yannick: great to hear! I really had to get used to that Leica, totally different from a DSLR. But I’m also so pleasantly surprised by the result every time (colours, detail, sharpness). And it fits in a small handbag. Add a lightweight tripod and you’re all set. I always take it with me on ‘trips’!
Translated from Dutch.

Robert Vogels wrote on Tuesday 6 March 2018 at 12:17 | reply
Nice nice nice Michelle. Indeed a nice day out for big and smaller children. And photographers of course....
Photo-shooting greetings Robert
Translated from Dutch.

j.g hoveling wrote on Tuesday 6 March 2018 at 13:52 | reply
Come 3 times a year to this beautiful museum -sometimes with a model. No problems with taking photos but... you may not use a tripod! From the end of December through the beginning of January the museum is in Christmas spirit : winter station. You can also ice skate , a carousel for the little ones and much more.A real recommendation!
Translated from Dutch.

guest wrote on Tuesday 6 March 2018 at 13:55 | reply
A tripod is definitely not allowed?
Translated from Dutch.

Michelle Peeters wrote on Tuesday 6 March 2018 at 14:01 | reply
I did a quick Google search and read that you indeed aren't allowed to photograph from a tripod or film at the Railway Museum! I wasn't aware of this either and did it anyway! But in many places there is enough light to photograph 'handheld'. From the high walkways you can rest the camera on the railing, and in dark spaces against a wall. And photographing from a low angle (bring a beanbag or something similar) might also be a possibility then.
Translated from Dutch.

Ruurd wrote on Tuesday 6 March 2018 at 17:36 | reply
That's right. Tripods aren't allowed and a 'professional' flash setup certainly isn't. But, the good news is: special model photography evenings are sometimes held, where the museum is explicitly rented out. And then everything is allowed... Just take a look on facebook (Danny van Kolck).
Translated from Dutch.

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