Museon-Omniversum

Museon-Omniversum is a family museum in The Hague designed for curious children aged six to twelve. The idea is to discover, play and learn together, and the exhibitions are built around trying things rather than reading panels: interactive displays invite children to touch, test and explore, while parents are encouraged to join in. A major draw is the Omniversum dome, which shows films in what the museum describes as the largest dome in the Netherlands, wrapping the audience in images of space, nature and science. The One Planet exhibition links the visit to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, giving families an activity card, a set of questions to answer together and a result that tells each child what kind of global citizen they are. There is a Museum Café for food and drink. The museum is fully indoors and open all year round, which is its great practical strength. In a country where the weather changes quickly, a museum that works in any conditions is a valuable fallback, and this one gives children enough variety to fill a half day without anyone becoming bored. The all-in-one ticket covers the museum exhibitions and one film in the dome, so the film becomes the centrepiece rather than an add-on, and it makes the planning simple.

The sensible plan is to arrive in the morning, spend an hour or two in the exhibitions, take lunch in the cafe and then watch your film. A day ticket covers the museum and one dome film, and the last film you can attend with a day ticket is the 4:00 p.m. show, so do not leave the dome until too late in the afternoon.

Reserving a film place is optional but recommended, particularly at weekends and in school holidays, because popular shows can fill. Evening tickets for individual films or performances are also sold, starting from 5:00 p.m., and these only appear for dates when an evening show is programmed.

Note that the museum and the dome are at different addresses. The museum is on Stadhouderslaan, and the Omniversum dome is on President Kennedylaan, a short distance away, so allow a few minutes to move between them and check which entrance your ticket needs. Tickets are bought online and sent by email, and tickets bought at the counter cost a little more, so booking ahead saves money as well as time.

Children aged 0 to 3 are free but do not have an individual dome seat and need a ticket from the counter. Parking nearby is paid, and the museum is easy to reach by public transport or bike.

The museum is aimed at primary-school ages, so younger children may enjoy parts of it but will not get everything from it, and teenagers may find it a little young. Adults without children are unlikely to build a trip around it, although the dome films can be impressive in their own right.

For families who have done the art museums and the beach and need a good wet-weather option, it is hard to beat. Combine it with a walk in the nearby dunes and parks, or with Madurodam for a full family day, and you will have covered the main child-friendly sights of The Hague.