MuseumLAB

MuseumLAB, a place in Escamp where children discover their talent

In the Escamp district, you will find MuseumLAB, a place where children playfully engage with technology, science, and culture. Here, they don't just look, but above all, they do. From building birdhouses to making little robots, it is a place where curiosity takes center stage and where children are challenged to discover and create for themselves.

MuseumLAB in the Bouwlust district shows how an initiative in the heart of the neighborhood can contribute to the development of young residents, such as YounesIt brings learning and discovery closer to home and makes it accessible to everyone. 'It's fun because you can make things yourself and they also teach you quite a lot of things.'

Proud of MuseumLAB

To learn by practise

For children, MuseumLAB is a place where they try out new things and can be proud of what they create. 'When I made something here for the first time, I thought: am I special or not?' That experience of creating something themselves and feeling appreciated for it keeps children coming back. It feels like learning, but in a different way than in the classroom.

Bringing the museum to the neighborhood

MuseumLAB was established by Museon-Omniversum, with a clear rationale. Project Leader Maarten Okkersen and program maker Hienke Rijnbeek We noticed that many children only visited the museum through school. 'What we saw is that children do come to the museum with school, but not on their own with their parents.' By bringing the museum to the neighborhood, the threshold is lowered and a place is created where children and parents can discover together.

A place for meeting and development

MuseumLAB is more than a place to learn. It is also a meeting place in the neighborhood. Residents come together here to participate in activities and meet each other.

From technology and nature to art and language, the offerings are broad and accessible. Thanks to multilingual projects, for example, more residents feel welcome and involved.

On the radio

On Friday, April 17, Maarten Okkersen was a guest on DenHaagFM. In Jessica Mendels' radio program Haags Bakkie, he spoke about the wonderful initiative MuseumLAB. The recording can be listened to via this link: Listen to The Hague FM (from 31:30 to 38:01).

Together with residents, we look at what is needed and how we can contribute to their future.

Proud of a place that is growing

What makes MuseumLAB special is that a museum literally establishes itself in the neighborhood and builds a program together with residents that connects with their living environment.

The initiative is growing in popularity and demonstrates how important it is to enable talent development close to home. Within Nieuw70, MuseumLAB is an example of how learning, meeting, and creating come together in a place that offers a future to the neighborhood.

Younes and Hienke are visibly proud of that.