Tax & Customs Museum — Attraction in Rotterdam

Small but very informative, with 3 floors dedicated to their own subject/time period.

The museum is part of a very old building which in and of itself is interesting, but the wealth of knowledge on various things is enriching to say the least. From historic perspective to more recent developments that all have to do with tax and customs.

Aside from a lot of items and description the museum also manages to incorporate games, show and tell, and interactive displays. It therefore is not just a walk, look, and read experience; making it interesting for a much younger audience as well.

Depending on your interests, and how fast you are able to read, I'd say you'll be spending at least 2 hours; of course if you're not a fast reader or it's somewhat busy you may spend a little more time enjoying...

The museum was for me quite disappointing: I already visited the tax museums in Hamburg and Liverpool so I expected this to be as interesting as the others, especially located close to one if the biggest harbours in the world. The classic exhibition was very interesting but many screens didnt work. Some of the speakers need some qualitiy checks since it was very hard to understand anything. The most disappointing point was the interactive section on the top floor: 2 of 5 were not working at all as well as the instruction screen at the entrance. Moreover not all members of staff were welcoming: they never heard of eye contact. Therefore I cannot recommend this museum. Save the money for anything more...

Who knew a Dutch tax museum was actually fun to visit? This museum is all about the history of taxes in the Netherlands. When the first taxes were implemented, how violently people opposed taxes, how people smuggled goods to evade taxes and curious tax laws. Even the Dutch started a war because of taxes!

The temporarily exhibition was about the financial mechanisms of the slave trade and imperial Dutch colonies. How much the Dutch earned, how the control of pruduce was maintained and how locals became tax collectors for the Dutch.

All information is in Dutch and English and the building is wheelchair accessible.

Highly recommended as the information is surprisingly fun and...