Historic Museum of Rijnsburg

Museum Oud-Rijnsburg
Oude Vlietweg 6
2231 CN RIJNSBURG

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The historic Museum of Rijnsburg is located in a beautifully restored 18th century building in the village center at the “Oude Vlietweg”.

The permanent exhibition is subdivided in three periods:
1 From approximately AD 750 to AD 1.600
2 From AD 1.600 to AD 1.900
3 Recent history from 1.900 onwards
For each period touchscreens have been installed offering stories and explanation of the exhibits

The most important historic subject in the first period is the history of the Rijnsburg abbey.

Founded by the countess Petronilla van Saksen in 1.133, the abbey quickly became a center of education for daughters of the nobility. Fuelled by gifts from the nobility the wealth and the influence of the abbey became a factor of major importance in the Netherlands between 1.133 and 1.574 when the abbey was destroyed during the siege of Leiden. Today only the south church tower remains. The foundations of the abbey have been excavated and restored.

Closely linked to the history of the abbey is the history of the counts (nobility) of the Netherlands, not less than 19 members of the nobility were buried in the abbey church.

The most famous count was Floris V, who left a rich history of campaigns against the Friesians, as well as the construction of the “Ridderzaal” in the Hague and the castles “Muiderslot” and “Radboud”. He also founded the knights of St. Jacob, an order which still exists today.