Museum Ons'Lieve Heer Op Solder, North Holland Province, The Netherlands

5packyderm 5:00 PM Oct 25, 2021

Well worth a visit
This was a fascinating visit. I have been to Amsterdam several times but my first time here. The whole tour is well paced. It starts with a short film explaining the history and you are given an audio tour to take around with you. This explains each room in a concise fashion with the option of extra information as wanted. Essentially the tour combines two things. It gives you an idea of how people lived and traded in the family rooms and also of the lengths to which catholics had to go to worship. There was an unobtrusive dress exhibition throughout when we visited too. I was interested in how small and dark the family rooms actually were as I did not appreciate this from the outside. This , therefore, did not prepare me for the contrast and size of the church in the roof itself which is a testament to man’s determination to worship as he chooses. The capacity is surprising with plenty of light and height. Photos without flash permitted. Entry is included on the very good value museum cards which is well worth price if visiting lots of museums. There are lots of steep narrow stairs so people with some physical disabilities cannot visit rooms in person but a system has been set up whereby a companion walks round the house and people with a disability can see using VR goggles ( I think that is how it works and an excellent idea).

5Mark N 5:00 PM Mar 1, 2023

Innovative Response to Access Challenge
A fascinating museum unlike anything I have seen elsewhere. I must specially commend the provision for disabled visitors. Like many old buildings, it has proved difficult to provide access. Rather than give up, they provide a “covisit” facility; whereby a companion explores the museum guided by the disabled visitor, maintaining full audio/visual contact. I have never encountered this before. It was an innovative response to an impossible situation and allowed us to explore together. Frankly it was tremendous fun. I wish others were as innovative.