University of Amsterdam Computer Museum
One of just a handful of computer museums in the Netherlands, the University of Amsterdam's Computer Museum is a meticulously curated collection of computer history, from as far back as World War II to the present day. The museum, established in 1991, juxtaposes computers with their predecessors to demonstrate how scientific calculation was carried out in the pre-computer era, and the advance that the advent of the computer represented over these methods.
The collection is both vast and varied, and contains all manner of computers, peripherals, documentation and more. Virtually the entire computer era is represented, from paper tape calculators to microcomputers. Best of all, a number of these historic machines are still functional.
However, this specialized museum requires a bit more effort to visit than the usual attractions. Visitors must schedule a tour with the curator by written (email) request in order to explore the collection; tours last one to two hours, and are only conducted on weekdays. For those who aren't able to fit a tour into their Amsterdam itinerary, or who just want to browse the collection in advance of their visit, the museum maintains an exhaustively detailed web site full of pictures and descriptions from their collection, from hardware and peripherals to documentation and promotional materials. For computer enthusiasts, the web site alone is a real treat, one that offers a window into the variety and depth of the museum's unique collection.
University of Amsterdam
Science Park 904, Room B0157a
1098XH Amsterdam
Phone: +31 (0)20 525 7523
Web: http://www.science.uva.nl/museum/
Museum Hours:
The Computer Museum has no fixed hours. Guided tours of one to two hours (for maximum ten visitors per tour) may be scheduled by written request (via email). No tours are offered on weekends or public holidays.
Directions:
From Amsterdam Centraal Station, take the Sprinter train in the direction of Zwolle to the Amsterdam Science Park stop. (See the Dutch Railways (NS) web site for the latest timetables and fare information.) From the station, head northwest on Middenmeerlaan, then make a right onto Kruisweg, which leads into the Science Park.
The collection is both vast and varied, and contains all manner of computers, peripherals, documentation and more. Virtually the entire computer era is represented, from paper tape calculators to microcomputers. Best of all, a number of these historic machines are still functional.
However, this specialized museum requires a bit more effort to visit than the usual attractions. Visitors must schedule a tour with the curator by written (email) request in order to explore the collection; tours last one to two hours, and are only conducted on weekdays. For those who aren't able to fit a tour into their Amsterdam itinerary, or who just want to browse the collection in advance of their visit, the museum maintains an exhaustively detailed web site full of pictures and descriptions from their collection, from hardware and peripherals to documentation and promotional materials. For computer enthusiasts, the web site alone is a real treat, one that offers a window into the variety and depth of the museum's unique collection.
Computer Museum Visitor Information
Address:
University of Amsterdam
Science Park 904, Room B0157a
1098XH Amsterdam
Phone: +31 (0)20 525 7523
Web: http://www.science.uva.nl/museum/
Museum Hours:
The Computer Museum has no fixed hours. Guided tours of one to two hours (for maximum ten visitors per tour) may be scheduled by written request (via email). No tours are offered on weekends or public holidays.
Directions:
From Amsterdam Centraal Station, take the Sprinter train in the direction of Zwolle to the Amsterdam Science Park stop. (See the Dutch Railways (NS) web site for the latest timetables and fare information.) From the station, head northwest on Middenmeerlaan, then make a right onto Kruisweg, which leads into the Science Park.
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