Veenkoloniaal Museum

About

Veenkoloniaal Museum Veendam ( Amsterdam Peat Museum) is one of the most surprising museums in the province of Groningen. In the 17th century investors from Amsterdam invested their money in the enormous Bourtanger Moor. Peat (turf/veen) was brought by small vessels to city's like Amsterdam and Gouda.The museum not only tells about peatdigging, but also about the Golden Age of this region, the 19th century! The age when 60% of the Dutch fleet was located in little towns like Veendam, Wildervank and Pekela. They traded f.e.with the town of Riga. It also the century of Anthony Winkler Prins who wrote his encyclopaedia in Veendam and century of William Albert Scholten, the first multinational in the Netherlands. Succesfull in trading in potato starch, straw- and cardboard. Besides the (permanent) story of the region, the museum organizes interesting art and historical exhibitions.

At a glance

• Typical visit: about 1 hour 30 minutes