Museum Hoge Woerd: Roman ship & free admission to the Castellum

On the edge of Utrecht, in the district of Leidsche Rijn, lies the Museum Hoge Woerd. Here, no ordinary museum awaited us, but a “modern interpretation of a Roman fort” and a visit that we will remember.

A Modern Fort Full of History: The Castellum Hoge Woerd

The Castellum was built on the exact spot where Roman soldiers once guarded the northern border of the empire. The original fort was an important base on the Lower German Limes. This entire border line, which stretches through the Netherlands and Germany, has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

I find it very exciting that they decided not to fake an “original fortress.” Instead, they built a modern form that traces the exact outlines and position of the ancient fort.

From Watchtower to Bathhouse: Roman Traces at the UNESCO World Heritage Limes

But before we entered the fort, we passed the watchtower. This is a faithful, walkable replica of a Roman watchtower. From here, one can overlook the symbolic “border” and understand the life of a sentry.

The foundations of a Roman bathhouse were also discovered on site and are exceptionally well preserved for this northern region. Instead of covering them with a replica, the floor plan of the bath was traced on the forecourt using ornamental grass.

Highlight at Museum Hoge Woerd: The Roman Ship “De Meern 1”

The centerpiece of the Castellum is undoubtedly the Museum Hoge Woerd, an archaeological center hidden inside the modern fortress walls.

For visitors, perhaps the most surprising information is: Admission to the permanent exhibitions at Museum Hoge Woerd is completely free. This is a conscious decision by the municipality of Utrecht to make culture and history as accessible as possible. This is made possible by a large team of volunteers who support operations.

A Time Capsule: Why the Ship is So Well Preserved

The absolute showpiece and main attraction of the museum is the “De Meern 1,” a 25-meter-long Roman river ship. It was excavated in 2003 not far from the Castellum in the soil of Leidsche Rijn. The ship is considered the most complete Roman river ship ever discovered in Northwest Europe.

Unlike most ancient shipwrecks, the “De Meern 1” sank suddenly around 190 AD. It is suspected that this happened due to a navigation error in a tributary of the Rhine. The skipper apparently had to leave the ship quickly, and so it went down with everything on board.

The result is a “unique time capsule.” The layers of mud and riverbed preserved not only the wood of the ship but also its complete equipment and the captain’s personal items, which were trapped in his cabin. This includes a rare collection of tools. We could see these in display cases, and I was quite amazed at how similar some of them are to our modern tools.

Our Personal Goosebump Moment

For me, the view of this ship was exciting. After all, we had driven through the canals of Utrecht with the replica just a day before, and now we could admire the original.

The tools in the showcases looked surprisingly similar to our modern ones. It was fascinating to imagine how the captain lived and worked here nearly two millennia ago before his ship sank.

More Than Just a Ship: The Permanent Exhibition “3000 Years of Living and Working”

While the ship is the star, the main exhibition “3000 Years of Living and Working” shows the history of the immediate vicinity of the Castellum.

Leidsche Rijn is one of the largest new development areas in the Netherlands, and before houses could be built here, 25 years of intensive archaeological rescue excavations were necessary. The exhibition presents some of the finds from these excavations. We could see artifacts from the Bronze Age through the Roman era to the Middle Ages and the present day.

The exhibition is designed to be interactive. It begins with an introduction to basic archaeological techniques and uses a timeline that compares local events with those in the Netherlands and Europe. A highlight is a 360-degree film that lets visitors dive into the development of the landscape from the beginning to the present day.

Interactive in the ArcheoLab: Become a Researcher Yourself

I found the ArcheoLab very exciting. Here, visitors can help with archaeological research under the guidance of volunteers and sort or analyze finds. A great idea, also to sensitize children to this topic.

An Experience for the Whole Family: Offers for Children

Museum Hoge Woerd is explicitly designed as a destination for “young and old” and is very family-friendly. We could observe children in the museum who were exploring with great enthusiasm.

The Castellum Scavenger Hunt

With the Castellum Scavenger Hunt, children aged approx. 7 and up can do a scavenger hunt through the entire Castellum for €2. They search for letters, solve a riddle, and make their own souvenir at the end. I really liked the suitcase that was provided to them for this.

Research & Discover in the ArcheoLab

In the ArcheoLab, children can become archaeologists themselves. Especially during school holidays, there are activities for young researchers (ages 8+), where they learn, for example, how to glue shards or make ancient glue. Children can bring their own (soil) finds to the “Archeologisch spreekuur” (archaeological consultation hour) and have them analyzed by experts.

The Four Pillars of the Castellum: What Else Is There to Discover?

For visitors with a bit more time, the Castellum offers other great destinations.

Steede Hoge Woerd: Urban Farm & Nature Playground

Directly attached to the fort and also free (Tue–Sun, 10:00–17:00) is the “Steede Hoge Woerd,” a spacious urban farm (Stadsboerderij). Visitors can experience farm animals up close here. A daily highlight is the public feeding. A large nature playground with water courses and sand, a flower-picking garden in the summer, and various educational programs round off the offer.

CastellumCafé: Culinary Break in the Courtyard

The CastellumCafé is a restaurant with a large terrace in the sunny courtyard of the fort. The café is open all day from 10:00 AM.

Podium Hoge Woerd: Culture in the Evening

The Podium Hoge Woerd is a professional theater hall with 230 seats, which is also located within the fortress walls. The program is diverse and includes theater, modern dance, cabaret, music, and special family performances.

Our Conclusion: Is a Visit to Museum Hoge Woerd Worth It?

The Museum Hoge Woerd was one of the surprises in Utrecht for us. The modern architecture of the Castellum is impressive, and the Roman ship “De Meern 1” is rightly the showpiece. The combination of archaeology, the interactive ArcheoLab, and free admission is unbeatable. Paired with the urban farm and the beautiful café in the courtyard, Castellum Hoge Woerd is a perfect excursion destination for the whole family, where one can easily spend several hours.

Visitor Information

Address

Hoge Woerdplein 1,
3454 PB De Meern (Utrecht)

The visit was a part of a press trip.