Natuurhistorisch Museum, Rotterdam

The Natural History Museum (Natuurhistorisch Museum) is situated within the city of Rotterdam. Established in 1927, this museum holds a significant collection of natural history artifacts.

The museum finds its home in Villa Dijkzigt, located in the Museumpark area, adjacent to the Kunsthal and the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen. Villa Dijkzigt, originally constructed in 1852 by J. F. Metzelaar for the Van Hoboken family, received a contemporary expansion in 1995 through a sleek glass pavilion designed by the Dutch architect Erick van Egeraat. This addition houses a shop and a library.

The museum's vast collection features over three hundred and fifty thousand items, encompassing a diverse range from mammals and insects to mollusks and fossils. While the majority of these objects are stored in depots, they become accessible to the public during rotating exhibitions. Notable highlights include imposing skeletons of a giraffe, sperm whale, and elephant, all of which are perpetually on display. The sperm whale, prominently positioned at the forefront of the glass pavilion, captures attention. Additionally, the elephant's skeleton exhibited within the museum originates from Rotterdam Zoo, where it passed away in 1998.

Within the museum's various chambers, visitors can explore the permanent exhibition. This engaging display introduces animals with compelling narratives, delves into Dutch fossils dating back millions of years, unveils unexpected urban biodiversity, and imparts knowledge about optimal methods for preserving deceased animals. These instances merely scratch the surface of the enduring components found at the Natuurhistorisch Museum Rotterdam.