Hilversum

Museum Hilversum

Now home to Museum Hilversum and the tourist office, the building used to function as Hilversum's town hall in the period 1881-1931. It's a typical 19th-century building in neo-renaissance style. The museum's permanent collection is about the history of Hilversum after 1850. They also have temporary exhibitions, usually about photography, modern architecture or the cultural history of the Gooi area.

Fri-Wed 11:00-17:00, Thu 11:00-21:00·€5, free entry on Wednesdays · Free entry · Wheelchair accessible

Costerustuin

As early as the 1920s, biology scholar Jan Costerus wanted to educate the public about native flora found in Het Gooi and the surrounding area. He founded Hilversum's first educational garden in 1920, and it moved to its current location in 1930. Unlike most gardens, plants are not arranged aesthetically or by flowering season, but by family, on the basis of the Eichler plant taxonomy system. About 1200 wild plants, flowers and trees from all over the Gooi area and its vicinity are on display with name tags.

During daylight

Pinetum Blijdenstein

The Pinetum is a botanical garden founded by B.W. Blijdenstein in 1911. It is famous around the world among those knowledgeable on the subject. The Pinetum has one of the world's most important conifer collections, with many species rare and endangered in the wild. Besides conifers, there are gatherings of cycads, palms, ephedras, Tasmanian flora and rhododendrons. A notable tree is the sequoia sempervirens, the largest tree in the world. Get a map at the visitor's centre and walk along the advised path.

1 Nov-31 Mar: Mon-Fri 09:00-16:00; 1 Apr-31 Oct: Mon-Fri 09:00-16:00, Sat Sun hols 12:00-16:30·€2.50, free entry on Wednesdays

Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision

Nederlands Instituut voor Beeld en Geluid

An architectural marvel. Designed by Jaap Drupsteen and completed in 2006, this block-shaped building became an instant landmark and won the Dutch Golden Pyramid award for its architectural significance. Don't be fooled by its size: it's actually twice as massive, as half of the building is underground! A century of Dutch television, film and radio archives are stored in the underground vault, to be protected for future generations. The glass windows depict important moments in Dutch television history. You can walk inside and have a cup of coffee at the restaurant. It is also home to an interactive museum with a display of Dutch audiovisual archives in 15 different theme zones. However, you must have a profound interest in the Dutch cultural heritage to be able to enjoy that as a foreigner.

Tue Sun 10:00-17:30·Adults €15, children 6-12 €8

Laapersveld

The Laapersveld was created in 1919 as a public works project. The sand extracted to create the pond has been used for its hilly terrain. The park is designed by W.M. Dudok and J.H. Meijer. Dudok's influence is most clearly seen in the design of the pumping station, which is in Amsterdam School style. It was used to drain rain and sewer water into the pond and from there to the Oude Haven. The park has a calm ambiance. You can relax, feed the geese or work out.

Landgoed Zonnestraal

Zonnestraal is one of Duiker's architectural marvels, and among the best examples of the New Objectivity style. The estate was submitted to UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites, and is on the tentative list. Zonnestraal was built as a tuberculosis sanatorium in the 1920s and 1930s. It consists of one large main building, two smaller pavilions and some additional buildings that were added later. The buildings are made of concrete and glass, in the colours white, black and a specific kind of light-blue called 'Duiker blue'. Start at Brasserie Zonnestraal (Loosdrechtse Bos 15, +31 35 538-5402), buy the walking guide there for €5 and follow the 4,5 km walking trail around the estate. If you want to see the interior of the building, you can only do so by taking the guided tour that is given every last Sunday of the month. You need to register for the tour beforehand by calling the listed phone number or by sending an e-mail. The tour starts at Brasserie Zonnestraal at 12:00 and 14:00, and costs €8, to be paid in cash to the tour guide. The tour takes 90 minutes.

Closed · opens 6 am tomorrow

Boombergpark

Between 1831 and 1841, painter Jan van Ravenswaay bought several farmlands west of Hilversum with financial support from friends in Amsterdam. Together with his cousin and hiking partner, the notary Albertus Perk, he created a leafy hiking trail from Hilversum to the forest area in the west. In 1848, the area of the trail was transferred to the municipality of Hilversum. It was one of the first public walking trails outside a town's built-up area. In the late 19th century, the Boombergwijk was constructed, and since then the trail is inside the town's built-up area. The Boombergwijk is among the wealthiest neighbourhoods of town with beautiful free-standing villas. Since 2006, the Boombergwijk, together with Trompenberg, has been declared a protected cityscape by the Ministry of Housing and the Environment. The park starts at the Rosarium, a rose garden with a monument dedicated to the victims of World War II, designed by V.P.S. Esser. The Boombergpark is best visited as a part of the Peerlkamproute hiking trail.

Hilversum Town Hall

Raadhuis Hilversum

This is unquestionably Dudok's masterpiece. Built in 1928-1931, this building has wide international fame and features in many architecture textbooks. The building has a remarkable shape and feels like a combination of 'blocks'. It's built with specifically designed yellow bricks that have a slightly different size than traditional ones. Dudok is also responsible for the interior, the furniture, the decorations and even the font used. If open, visit the Dudok Dependance, a permanent overview of Dudok's life and work organised by Museum Hilversum. Every Friday and Sunday at 13:30, there is a guided tour through the building for €8.50. You can just show up, you don't need to register beforehand. The tour takes 90 minutes and is given in Dutch, but the guide will also talk in English upon request. It gives you the chance to view some of the rooms that are closed to the public, such as the marriage room and the mayor room. If the weather allows it, you will climb the 46 m tower for an overview of Hilversum and the surrounding area. There are special arrangements possible for groups. For bookings, call the listed phone number or inquire at the Museum Hilversum.

Fri Sun 13:00-15:30

Grote Kerk

The medieval tower of this church is the oldest remaining structure in Hilversum, as it originates from 1481. The base of the church was built in 1891 in neo-renaissance style. It has been a victim of fires a number of times. The last fire was in 1971, after which the church was completely restored. It can only be entered during religious ceremonies.

Oudkatholieke kerk

This Catholic church was built in 1889 from a design by architect Weeldenburg. Its front is in a neo-baroque style with a dome on top. The interior features stained glass windows and painted panels. It can only be visited on Wednesdays during summer holidays, between 12:00 and 14:00.

Regenboogkerk

Although a church, it doesn't remotely look like one from the outside. It's a huge grey block made of glass, designed in 2000 by architects Ben van Berkel and Caroline Bos, who were also responsible for the Erasmus Bridge in Rotterdam. Glass was used so the inside and the outside of the building don't feel separated, and the inside retains its intimate atmosphere during religious ceremonies.

Sint-Vituskerk

Completed in 1892, this Roman Catholic church devoted to Saint Vitus is one of the last works of P.J.H. Cuypers. It's one of the few buildings not touched by the modern architecture wave of the 1920s and kept its neogothic style. With a height of 98 metres, it is the tallest neogothic tower in the Netherlands. The previous church on this location, also called Sint-Vituskerk, did not have enough space for important ceremonies. The new church has a maximum capacity of 1800 people. Its acoustic quality has been praised and it was often used as a studio for television shows.

Zanderij Crailo

Zanderij Crailo is the largest wildlife crossing in the world. Construction started in December 2002 and it was officially opened by Queen Beatrix in 2006, costing approximately €15 million. With 800 metres in length and 50 metres in width, it connects the Spanderswoud in the west with the Bussumerheide in the east. It is a remarkable engineering feat, as it crosses over a railway, a road, a train maintenance area and a sport park. By connecting the forests of the Gooi area and the Utrechtse Heuvelrug, the crossing created the second largest connected nature area in the Netherlands, strengthening biodiversity in the region.

Beeld & Geluid

The Dutch Institute for Sound and Vision (Dutch: Nederlands Instituut voor Beeld en Geluid, NIBG), founded as Dutch Audiovisual Archive (Dutch: Nederlands Audiovisueel Archief, NAA) is an archive centre and museum located in Hilversum, Netherlands. It is the business archive of the Dutch public broadcasting system as well as a cultural heritage institute for researchers and the public. The Museum voor Communicatie merged with the institute in 2019, rebadged as Beeld en Geluid Den Haag, and in 2022 Muziekweb, previously based in Rotterdam, also merged with the NIBG. The NIBG also hosts the B&G Wiki, which contains information about all aspects of the screen and recording industries contained…

Closed · opens 10 am tomorrow·Limited wheelchair access

Geologisch Museum Hofland

51 Hilversumseweg

Closed · opens 1 pm tomorrow

Bokspringende jongens

Bronzen beeld van twee bokspringende jongens. Een jongen vormt de bok, terwijl de andere er met gespreide benen en gestrekte armen overheen springt.

DITISONZETIJD

Cortenstalen kunstwerk met twee uurwerken. Aan de voorkant wordt de actuele tijd weergegeven en aan de achterkant loopt de tijd terug. Het kunstwerk verwijst naar het heden en verleden van het gebied en naar de historische Gooische Moordenaar.

Danseresjes

Twee kinderdanseresjes die balletpassen oefenen. Aangekocht op overzichttentoonstelling na het overlijden van de kunstenaar.

De Acteur

Acteur in 18e-eeuws kostuum met masker, gemodelleerd naar Casanova.

De Verplaatsing

Abstract kunstwerk van Shlomo Koren, geplaatst bij het Stadskantoor. Het werk werd gerealiseerd als vervangend kunstwerk nadat Koren's Verstild Kunstwerk op de Kerkbrink in 2006 onder de bestrating was verdwenen.

De Viervoudige Torsie

Kunstwerk van vier witte, gedraaide polyesterzuilen op een zwarte sokkel. Het werk is ook bekend als 'De Zuilen'.

De dans

Twee gestileerde vrouwelijke figuren met gestrekte armen, de handen in elkaar en aan de heupen verbonden in een draaiende, dansende beweging.

De luisteraars

Beeldengroep van Oscar Jespers uit 1962, bestaande uit een vrouwenfiguur en een iets grotere mannenfiguur. Het beeld is ontworpen als ruimtelijke verbinding tussen de oorspronkelijke radiostudio en de later gebouwde technische vleugel.

Drie spelende kinderen

Betonnen sculptuur van drie gestileerde kinderen die in een kring met elkaar verbonden zijn. De figuren leunen naar achteren, tillen een been op en grijpen elkaars armen vast, waardoor een draaiende beweging en een doorlopend ritme ontstaan.

Eland

Bronzen sculptuur van een eland met lange, slanke poten en een groot gewei. Arie Teeuwisse maakte het beeld in opdracht van de gemeente Hilversum voor het nieuwe scholencomplex De Dubbeldekker. Voor de opdracht observeerde hij maandenlang een eland in Die

Erfgooier

Manshoge bronzen sculptuur van een Erfgooier, een Gooise boer met een boerenpet en een zeis over zijn schouder. De figuur is een verbeelding van de historische Erfgooiers, die gezamenlijk gebruiks- en beheersrechten hadden over de gemeenschappelijke grond

Fjordenpaard

Een bronzen beeld van een Noors fjordenpaard. Geschenk van V&D aan de Gemeente Hilversum ter gelegenheid van de opening van het vernieuwde filiaal in de Kerkstraat.

Gedenkteken Nederlands-Indië

Bronzen herdenkingsplaquette met een reliëfkaart van voormalig Nederlands-Indië. De plaquette herdenkt de slachtoffers die tijdens de Japanse bezetting van Nederlands-Indië in de Tweede Wereldoorlog om het leven kwamen.

Gedenkteken dwangarbeiders Tweede Wereldoorlog

Gedenkteken voor de Hilversumse mannen en jongens die op 23 oktober 1944 tijdens een Duitse razzia als dwangarbeider werden weggevoerd. De ontbrekende delen in het monument symboliseren de mensen die uit de gemeenschap verdwenen.

Gedenkteken dwangarbeiders WOII

Gedenkteken met ontbrekende delen die symbool staan voor weggevoerde dwangarbeiders.