The Chambers of Wonder

In the museum's attic, the Chambers of Wonder form a miniature world. More than 200 Zeeland and exotic objects are exhibited in three cabinets. Each object has its own history, its own story.

Discover the link between art and science

The Chambers of Wonder focus on the link between art and science. All the objects were once collected, made and/or used by well-known and lesser-known Zeelanders. For example, there is a stack of leather-bound books, which turns out to be a cabinet for storing butterfly specimens. There is also a moon dial designed in 1783 by Henricus Schortinghuis, a reverend from Koudekerke, who studied the moon's orbit around the earth.

Change your perspective

The Chambers of Wonder challenge visitors to think outside the box, to look at things differently and to ask questions. The rooms invite visitors to reflect on the design of the Chinese lid vase, but also on the porcelain production process. How difficult is it to get a vase over a metre tall out of the kiln in one piece? And what is the story behind the brain coral, for example?

Work by Pepijn van den Nieuwendijk 
(Cirque de Pepin) 

Visual artist Pepijn van den Nieuwendijk (Cirque de Pepin) is collaborating on the design of the Wonder Rooms. His detailed, surrealistic murals (more than 100m2) seem to come from a fantasy world, inspired by objects that can be seen in the Chambers of Wonder. 

The Chambers of Wonder  x atelier8a

Inspired by objects in the Chambers of Wonder, Atelier8A focuses on the stages of human life. From before birth to death, each stage has something beautiful, something unique. In ten videos, cinematic images accompanied by poems depict each stage of human life. This project was created thanks to the Province of Zeeland to stimulate Zeeland-based creators. In collaboration with Atelier8a, Duizend Dingen Dichter, Michael Kluin, Alina Kluin and Steffen Brinkhaus. Watch the first video here and click here for all videos.