Van Gijn House

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Welcome to this beautiful historic house in Dordrecht. Discover how a wealthy couple and their staff lived and worked around 1900.

A household on the upscale
Huis Van Gijn was built in 1729 and is the former residence of Dordrecht banker Simon van Gijn, who lived there with his wife Cornelia Vriesendorp from 1864. Walking through the rooms you will find 17th-, 18th- and 19th-century interiors. You will taste the atmosphere of yesteryear in the homely garden room and the grandeur of a visit in the Salon or a reception in the Hall.

Typical collector's house
Van Gijn was a great collector. His broad interests are reflected in the library, hallways, staircase, study and print room. Everything in the museum house is furnished as much as possible as Van Gijn left his house and collections after his death in 1922.

From cellar to roof
Unique is that all rooms are accessible, from the cellar to staff quarters in the attic. So over four floors you not only get a glimpse into the life of the wealthy bourgeoisie of the period, but also into that of the servant and the kitchen maid.

Living with the Seasons
A century ago, people lived with the season much more than they do today. This is reflected in the changing seasonal presentations in the home. Each season is slightly different, both upstairs and downstairs. During holidays and school vacations, the museum hosts special seasonal activities. Take a look at www.huisvangijn.nl for the current schedule.

Always something to do
Visitors receive a guidebook with more information about the different rooms in the house. For children there is a fun detective sheet with facts about daily life back then. One of the oldest toy collections in the Netherlands can be found in the attic; there is also a historical dressing-up corner. In the museum café adjacent to the attractive city garden you can enjoy coffee or tea with something sweet or a delicious lunch.