Vaste tentoonstelling
The Markt 12 Building

Submerge yourself in the history of Markt 12 and experience the stories of Tante Riek, ‘Ome Jan’ Wikkerink, and many others.

The Nationaal Onderduikmuseum (National Museum of Hiding and Resistance) tells the story of a community’s life and survival during ordinary and extraordinary times. The museum provides an insight into the daily lives of civilians during the occupation years of 1940–1945. At that time, a exceptionally high number of people-in-hiding were sheltered in the municipality of Aalten. In the museum, the stories of people in wartime can be experienced interactively.

Discover how daily life changed completely for them and the difficult choices people were forced to make. Realise that there are many nuances beyond simple ‘right or wrong’. Experience for yourself how difficult it is to generate electricity and how cramped it felt in the hiding spaces. Seek out the stories of those who lived through the war and connect them with contemporary events.

The museum also features an ‘Escape Room for Freedom’. Upon entering this Escape Room, you pay for your admission with your freedom at the door… Inside, you are presented with the questions and dilemmas encountered by anyone forced to flee. The museum collaborates on a cross-border (Euregional) level and offers a wide range of educational programmes. Temporary exhibitions frequently highlight various themes central to the museum’s mission.