Of all the things we saw in The Hague this summer I didn’t expect that Madurodam Theme Park would be something I would recommend everyone go visit, but here we are; I’m telling you it’s a must see. I’ve thought about this little gem of a tourist attraction a lot since our return home. On the surface it’s a fun theme park to spend a few hours at, but at it’s very core Madurodam is about love and the unbreakable bond we share with family. That’s why it makes me smile every time I think about it.
George Maduro fought for The Netherlands in World War II and died in the Dachau Concentration Camp of typhus in 1945. His parents wanted a living war memorial to their son, so they donated the start up capital to build Madurodam to show The Netherlands at it’s best. As Holland rebuilt after World War II, Madurodam grew as well, with Dutch companies like KLM and Unilever donating funds to keep it opened. In 1952, Madurodam opened to the world.
The details in these replicas of Holland’s most famous buildings and destinations, are incredible. Take the time to look inside the windows, the details are meticulous inside as well! As tourists in Holland for the first time, it was a great way for us to get a sense of what we should go out of our way to see, like the Rijksmuseum and the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam and The Binnenhof in The Hague. Sadly we didn’t get to Kinderdijk this time, but because of Madurodam, it’s on my list for our next visit.
If you go, plan to spend two to three hours exploring through each of the attractions. There is lots of interactive activities for kids (and kids at heart) to take part in, as well as a couple of short films to watch.
Since we were visiting from Canada, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to enjoy Dutch Poffertjes while walking through the park. When in Rome and all, right?
Madurodam Theme Park is open every day of the year, so there is always time to visit. It’s not far from the Gemeentemuseum or the beach at Scheveningen, so pairing an excursion to Madurodam with either one of these attractions would make for a perfect day in The Hague.
Madurodam Theme Park is a place families have been visiting and finding joy in since 1952. I can’t help but get a little misty when I think about George Maduro’s parents, completely devastated at the loss of their precious son, doing something so wonderful to preserve his memory. Madurodam doesn’t only highlight Holland at it’s very best but also family love at it’s very best.
[pjc_slideshow slide_type=”madurodam-theme-park-the-hague”]
Cirque’s VOLTA Is An Exhilarating Treat For All
