Experience the history of the oldest city in the Netherlands
2000 years of building alongside the Waal.
Descend into the exciting, underground past of Nijmegen. Wander through hidden corridors, staircases, and viewpoints. Discover the old defense tower, the vaulted cannon passage, and casemates. See, smell, feel, and listen to the history of the oldest city in the Netherlands.
From the entrance building, you dive into the underground museum section. Here, you will find a surprising hub of archaeological building remains, ranging from the 2nd to the 21st century. This monumental building history shows how generations of Nijmegen residents built upon each other over time.
UNESCO World Heritage Limes
The Lower Germanic Limes is the largest Dutch monument on the UNESCO World Heritage List. This part of the Limes formed the northern border of the Roman Empire. It is not a single structure but an entire border area consisting of multiple forts and settlements. The vast majority has been lost or lies hidden underground. How special it is that in our museum you can actually touch a piece of that famous Limes. This section was part of a Roman wall that defended the settlement on the hill. A unique piece of Roman history!
Archaeological hotspot
But why is this architectural history hotspot located here? Why did the Romans build an important fortification at this spot? And why did Nijmegen invest in a new, large, and expensive defense work here in the 16th century? This has to do with the unique landscape, and you can learn more about it in the permanent exhibition Origins of a Landscape.