Madurodam | The Hague

Information

Landmark: Madurodam
City: The Hague
Country: Netherlands
Continent: Europe

Madurodam, The Hague, Netherlands, Europe

Madurodam is a miniature park and interactive attraction located at George Maduroplein 1 in The Hague. It depicts Dutch landmarks, historical cities, and large infrastructure projects at a 1:25 scale.

Visual Characteristics

The park features highly detailed miniature replicas of iconic Dutch sites, including the Rijksmuseum, Binnenhof, and Schiphol Airport. The models include moving elements such as trains, planes, and ships. The landscape is meticulously maintained with miniature trees and plants to preserve the scale. Several large-scale indoor "attractions" provide immersive multimedia experiences.

Location & Access Logistics

Address: George Maduroplein 1, 2584 RZ Den Haag.

Public Transport: Reachable from Den Haag Centraal or Den Haag Hollands Spoor via Tram 9 or Bus 22 (Madurodam stop).

Parking: A dedicated on-site parking lot is available.

Accessibility: The park is fully wheelchair accessible; wheelchairs can be reserved in advance.

Historical & Ecological Origin

Opened in 1952, Madurodam was founded as a monument to George Maduro, a Jewish resistance hero who died in Dachau. It serves as a living memorial and a charity; all proceeds are donated to the Madurodam Children's Fund to support youth projects across the Netherlands. Princess Beatrix was the first "mayor" of the park.

Key Highlights & Activities

The Flying Dutchman: A full-sized restored Douglas DC-3 airplane that offers a multi-sensory "flight" over the Netherlands.

Waterwolf: An indoor attraction where visitors operate a massive steam engine to reclaim land from the sea, mimicking the Haarlemmermeer drainage.

Interactive Models: Visitors can load containers at the Port of Rotterdam, operate the Oosterschelde storm surge barrier, or bid at a flower auction.

Nieuw Amsterdam: A multimedia theater experience about the Dutch founding of New York.

Infrastructure & Amenities

The park includes two restaurants ("Taste of Holland" and the "Panorama Café"), a large playground, and a gift shop. High-speed 5G coverage is present throughout the site. The facility operates on a cashless basis.

Best Time to Visit

Hours: Daily 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (hours extend during summer and holidays).

Photography: Morning or late afternoon light is best to avoid harsh shadows on the miniature models.

Crowds: Mid-week visits are recommended to avoid school groups and weekend family crowds.

Facts & Legends

A verified technical oddity is that the "miniature" trees in the park are actual trees kept small through intensive pruning and root restriction. Legend holds that if a real bird lands on a model, it looks like a prehistoric monster to the "inhabitants" of the 1:25 scale world. The park has its own "government" consisting of a youth council from local schools.