Madurodam: A Voyage to Lilliput of Netherlands

Harsh Kurra
7 min readMar 24, 2023

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Children theme park miniature at Madurodam
Photo by Nazim Coskun on Unsplash

You must have read or heard about Gulliver traveler or Liliput, In India, there is a whole Chapter about it in Hindi textBook, nevermind it is a fictional tale by Jonathan Swift where a person named gulliver finds himself a prisoner of a race of tiny people, I still remember when I read that story in 5th standard I never thought I would be able to witness the similar city in realty but recently I got a chance to visit Madurodam which is a miniature city located in The Hague, Netherlands. It is a popular tourist attraction that features intricately detailed miniature replicas of famous Dutch landmarks, buildings, and cities. In this blog, we will witness this fascinating destination via our camera, experience, and imagination.

Madurodam Front View
Madurodam Front View

Loosen your seat belt and be a child again

History of Madurodam

Madurodam was created in 1952 as a tribute to George Maduro, a Dutch war hero who died during World War II, After the war, Maduro’s parents donated money to create a park in his memory. The park was designed to be a miniature city that would showcase the beauty and diversity of the Netherlands. The park was opened to the public on July 2, 1952, and quickly became a popular tourist attraction.

The Attractions of Madurodam

  1. Discover George’s Story…
    As we read it is built in memory of Dutch warrior George Maduro so the first thing you will witness is a short movie on George’s life in Dom theater, it was good to know a bit of history before beginning the fun

Madurodam is home to over 700 miniature replicas of famous Dutch landmarks, buildings, and cities, once we came out of the theater we are in a world where we can see the whole Netherlands in one go but in shorter form seems like some magician did `abra-ka-dabra` and we are in the new world

First View of Madurodam
First View of Madurodam
First View of Madurodam
First View of Madurodam
We can’t resist ourself to pose with this beautiful background

2. Let's weigh the Kass(Cheese)…
If You are in the Netherlands and have not experienced the Dutch Gouda cheese market then you must feel FOMO, but no worries At Madurodam you can experience the Dutch Kaas market and try some hands with Kaas weighing

Let’s weigh the Kass at Madurodam
Let’s weigh the Kass at Madurodam

3. Den Haag Binnenhof (Netherland Parliment)…
This miniature replica of the Dutch parliament building is one of the most popular attractions in Madurodam. Visitors can watch a miniature version of the Dutch government at work, complete with tiny debates and discussions, I highly recommend visiting the real Den Haag Binnenhof on the same day as both are in the same International City `Den Haag`

Den Haag Binnenhof (Netherland Parliment)
Den Haag Binnenhof (Netherland Parliment)

4. Let's enjoy Music Night…
If you want to play music like DJ and want to see the audience dancing on your fingers then you can do that in Madrodam

5. Have Some History Lessons at New Amsterdam Show...
How Many of you know The old name Of New York was New Amsterdam?
I am 100% sure very few people know about this, right? But At Madurodam you will get a chance to Improve your history, You can experience 6 min `New Amsterdam Show` to know how New York was created by Dutch in 1624,

Both English and Dutch shows available in alternate order

New Amsterdan show at Madrodam
New Amsterdan show at Madrodam

6. Experience Trams/Trains and stations around it…
When you move forward you will see a lot of landmarks in Miniature form but the one thing which is kept on running from here and there and seeking the attention of the child within you is Tram/Train.

Netherland’s NS trains Miniature at Madurodam

6. Flower Market 🌷
The Netherlands is the world's largest exporter of flowers in the world with 53% market share, Daily flower Auction is held at Royal FloraHolland, you can enjoy market basic in miniature form

Flower market Miniature at Madurodam

7. The Flying Dutchman Show
Board one of the last Dakota planes in the Netherlands and get ready for a flight that goes beyond flying. In The Flying Dutchman, you will discover everything about the pioneers who made this small country great. enjoy the coolest flight of your life!

Flying Dutchman Experience at Madurodam

8. The Rijksmuseum Amsterdam
This miniature replica of the famous Amsterdam museum is incredibly detailed and features many of the museum’s most famous works of art.

Rijksmuseum Miniature at madurodam

9. Defeat the Waterwolf
This miniature replica of the famous Dutch flood protection system is both impressive and educational. Visitors can learn about the history of the system and how it has protected the country from flooding.
This is one of the must-watch shows, we missed this one as this was at the exit gate and we were busy enjoying all other things.

Other popular attractions in Madurodam include miniature windmills, canals, and cities like Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Utrecht.

Visiting Madurodam

  1. How to reach
    Madurodam is open year-round and is a popular destination for tourists of all ages. The park is easily accessible by public transportation, The Madroand Tram station is just outside the park and line 9 takes you there from Both Den Haag Central and HS stations, Moreover, it is just 45 Min Drive from Amsterdam and there are several parking options for those who choose to drive.
  2. Tickets
    Fixed date Ticket will cost you €18 + some dynamic charge if you are buying it for a weekend, flexible date Ticket will cost you €23, You can purchase the tickets from the official website of Madurodam or try Tiqets.com to save some dynamic charges, Don’t forget to reserve your time slot after purchasing a ticket here
  3. Things To Eat
    There are also two restaurants and a cafe on-site where you can grab bite to eat.

We visited Madurodam on 25th Feb 2023, it was a sunny day and we enjoyed it a lot, Visitors should plan to spend at least three hours in Madurodam to fully appreciate all of the miniature attractions.

Conclusion

Madurodam is a unique and fascinating destination that offers visitors a chance to experience the beauty and diversity of the Netherlands in miniature form. With over 700 miniature replicas of famous landmarks and cities, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Whether you are a history buff, an art lover, or simply looking for a fun and educational day trip, Madurodam is definitely worth a visit.
If you need any specific or dynamic information then do put in a comment, we live close to Madurodam and try to provide the required information to the best of our knowledge

Enjoy our Insta posts for more pictures.

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