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Have you visited Museum Schokland? Discover the World Heritage Site of Flevoland in the Noordoostpolder. It should not be missed.
Museum Schokland in Flevoland is located on the Middelbuurt, one of the three remaining residential mounds. The museum is housed in a collection of buildings ranged around the historic church of Middelbuurt. The buildings are characteristic of the former Zuiderzee region. Many weddings have already been held in the church.
The internal and external exhibitions give an impression of the geology and archaeology of the Noordoostpolder, the origin and disappearance of the island, the life of the Schokker people and the draining of the Noordoostpolder.
Permanent exhibition
Along with the permanent exhibition…
Have you visited Museum Schokland? Discover the World Heritage Site of Flevoland in the Noordoostpolder. It should not be missed.
Museum Schokland in Flevoland is located on the Middelbuurt, one of the three remaining residential mounds. The museum is housed in a collection of buildings ranged around the historic church of Middelbuurt. The buildings are characteristic of the former Zuiderzee region. Many weddings have already been held in the church.
The internal and external exhibitions give an impression of the geology and archaeology of the Noordoostpolder, the origin and disappearance of the island, the life of the Schokker people and the draining of the Noordoostpolder.
Permanent exhibition
Along with the permanent exhibition and the audio-visual presentations about the history of the Noordoostpolder region and the World Heritage Site Schokland, various temporary exhibitions are held throughout the year in Museum Schokland on historical, archaeological or geological topics.
Important archaeological finding in the possession of Museum Schokland
In the 1980s and 1990s, extensive archaeological research was done into the former island of Schokland. Many wonderful prehistoric objects were found. Along with earthenware and tools, skeletons, traces of ploughing and even outlines of houses were found in the soil.
In 1984 a very unusual finding came to light. Human footprints were found that were around 4000 years old. These somewhat mysterious remnants of prehistoric people stimulated people’s imagination and drew a lot of attention. Some were recovered and displayed for a while. They then ended up as private property. This amazing finding was recently given to Museum Schokland and put on display again after a thorough conservation. The footprints are the crowning glory in the museum’s permanent exhibition.
Schokland: A World Heritage Site
For centuries, Schokland lay like a vulnerable peat ridge in an often stormy Zuiderzee. As the sea level rose and the flooding increased, more and more pieces of the island were being washed away. Ultimately, only a small, long strip of land was left. Now Schokland is an island on dry land that ‘sticks up’ above the polder landscape. It’s not surprising that this place was the first Dutch monument to be awarded the status of World Heritage Site. It’s a sign of international recognition, and a worthy symbol of the never-ending struggle of the Dutch against the water.
Schokland was placed on the list of the World Heritage Sites in 1995. It has nine national monuments, including five archaeological terrains, one of which is a mixed archaeological and built monument.
The built national monuments include a lighthouse keeper’s house and a church. There are also hundreds of archaeological mounds, church ruins, dyke systems and other relics. In addition, remains have been found at Schokland of prehistoric and early-historic communities on moorland that was constantly being threatened by the sea.
Bus stop right outside and bikes available
Museum Schokland is accessible by public transport. The ‘Museum Schokland’ stop on route 215 operated by RRReis (Kampen Zuid – Urk and vice versa) is practically right outside the door. Ideal if you don’t have a car or a driving licence and cycling to Schokland is too far for you. Would you still like to explore the former island by bike? You can. There is a bike-share hub in the car park of Museum Schokland. You can reserve, unlock and pay for a bike-share bike via the Deelfiets Nederland app.
