Nationaal Militair Museum — Attraction in Soest

Overall a very good museum, contains a lot of history and is entirely available in both Dutch and English. The history section of the museum manages to keep people of all ages and attention spans interested by displaying very detailed models and some interactivity. A lot of information is conveyed through the use of film, which although not always interactive, manages to keep you entertained and interested in a way a page of text simply could not.

The exhibition part of the museum is my personal favourite. The museum has a large collection of air and land vehicles ranging from early horse-drawn mortars to modern fighter jets. There are also exhibitions to the sides that explain in further depth how systems and subsystems work and have evolved through history.

There was also a third part of the museum, focused on children and teaching them about the Dutch military. I did not visit this part, however.

Finally, the museum is situated on a former air force base that has been converted to a national park. You can walk (or cycle) around freely outside where a few miscellaneous items are located. These do not require an entry ticket to observe.

The only downsides I can think of right are as follows:

For one, in this museum, compared to its previous incarnation, the Militair Luchtvaartmuseum, you aren't allowed to touch any of the vehicles and are kept at a distance, which subtracted from the experience. In this same part of the museum there is also a problem concerning the placement of information stands. They are sparse and often clustered together around the first exhibition in a series of exhibitions on the same topic. These stands are complimented by a few interactive stands with a map and additional information, but these seem to be dropped around the room at random and were often busy.

For another, it's not unusual for museums to charge above average for food items in the cafeteria and souvenirs, but the pricing in this particular museum have elevated to simply being very overpriced. The price of entry however is fairly reasonable.

In conclusion, if you don't mind viewing military hardware from a metre or two away, this museum offers a fine collection of items from throughout Dutch...

Visited the National Military Museum, and it was an extraordinary experience. The museum is massive, with a stunning display of planes hanging from the high ceilings and an impressive collection of military vehicles on the first floor. The second floor offers even more, with large, interactive rooms that make the experience engaging and educational.

As an Indonesian, visiting this museum provided a unique perspective. Given the colonial history between the Netherlands and Indonesia, it was interesting to view Dutch military history from their perspective, offering a deeper understanding of how these period shaped both countries.

The museum does an excellent job of highlighting the connection between the Dutch military and the country’s history. With over seventy years of peace in the Netherlands, many Dutch people have become distant from the armed forces and their nation’s military past. However, the museum effectively reminds visitors of how conflicts, from the Eighty Years’ War to the Cold War, have significantly shaped the Netherlands' borders, culture, and society. It reinforces the idea that peace and freedom should not be taken for granted, and that the armed forces have played a crucial role in securing these values.

The museum’s mission is clear: to raise awareness of the impact of war and the importance of protecting what we hold dear. It's a place that not only educates but also encourages reflection on the sacrifices made to ensure the peace and freedom enjoyed today. If you’re interested in military history or simply want to gain a deeper understanding of the Netherlands' past, this museum is a must-visit. Highly...

Excellent museum all around; very well presented, provides a comprehensive overview of Dutch military history in addition to offering a very good cross section of airborne and land-warfare kit.

Most Dutch post-war combat a/c are represented as well as what appears to be a fairly complete line-up of tracked and wheeled vehicles used by the Dutch army post-war alongside a comprehensive collection of artillery pieces from the late 1800s to the end of the Cold War. An impressive collection of uniforms, equipment, individual and squad support weapons rounds out the hardware side and the human element of warfare is equally well represented through personal recollections of Dutch servicemen and women.

Additionally, the rambler will find plenty of opportunities to venture outside and explore the length and breadth of the now demobbed Soesterberg air base. Finally, the café is worth a visit, too, serving tasty food (try the croquettes and sausage rolls together with a Veteraan Tripel) at reasonable prices. The gift shop focuses primarily on younger visitors but also offers some interesting gems for the military historian/militaria collector (such as the excellent and weighty (1.5 kgs) volume on Dutch uniforms including experimental kit from the 1980s user trials of Flecktarn).

The only word of warning, however, is that the shop will accept only MasterCard and Maestro cards while shunning Visa and Amex.

Highly recommended especially if you are familiar with the museum's predecessor from back in the day when this was still an...