Netherlands' smallest museum opens in Vlaardingen to honor WWII resistance heroes
Vlaardingen has unveiled Minimuseum De Geuzen, a 9 m² space dedicated to the first Dutch resistance group in WWII. This unique museum preserves history and educates citizens on the bravery of the Geuzen, offering free lectures to keep their legacy alive.
| Key Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Museum Name | Minimuseum De Geuzen |
| Location | Beneath the town hall steps, Vlaardingen, Zuid-Holland |
| Size | 9 m² (smallest museum in the Netherlands) |
| Opening Date | March 13, 2026 |
| Key Figure | Gergely Karácsony (Geuzenpenning laureate) |
| Symbolic Key Passed By | Alderman Koen Kegel, schoolchildren, and Alderwoman Lianne van Kalken |
| Historical Significance | Commemorates 15 Geuzen and 3 February strikers executed in 1941 |
| Lecture Date | March 27, 2026 (3:00 PM - 4:30 PM) |
| Lecture Topic | 'From Geuzen Resistance to Geuzen Medal' |
| Lecture Location | Civic Hall, Vlaardingen Town Hall |
The municipality of Vlaardingen plays a key role in preserving local heritage and culture, as demonstrated by the creation of Minimuseum De Geuzen. This initiative ensures that the stories of resistance during WWII remain accessible to the public, fostering education and remembrance.
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Minimuseum De Geuzen opened!
Friday, March 13, was dedicated to commemorating the Geuzen resistance, the presentation of the Geuzenpenning (Geuzen Medal), and the opening of Minimuseum De Geuzen. The laureate of the Geuzenpenning, Gergely Karácsony, turned the key in the lock of the monument-green door beneath the town hall steps. Behind this door lies what is likely the smallest museum in the Netherlands.
The mayor of Budapest received a large symbolic key (with a small key attached) from Alderman Koen Kegel, who, in his capacity as responsible for municipal buildings, spearheaded the creation of Minimuseum De Geuzen. Kegel then passed the key to a line of fifteen schoolchildren (from IKC Van Kampen and De Vos) and Alderwoman Lianne van Kalken, who is involved in culture and heritage for the brand-new exhibition space. The key thus traveled past the eighteen black stripes of the Geuzen Monument, which symbolize the fifteen Geuzen and three February strikers—resistance fighters executed by the German occupiers on March 13, 1941, at the Waalsdorpervlakte.
Minimuseum De Geuzen tells the story of the Geuzen resistance—the first Dutch resistance group in World War II—in a space of just 9 m². Vlaardingen’s arrested Geuzen passed through this space on their way to their cells, which were located further inside the town hall. More information is available on the page about Minimuseum De Geuzen.
Lecture on March 27: 'From Geuzen Resistance to Geuzen Medal'
Hjalmar Teunissen, heritage employee at Stadsarchief Vlaardingen, will deliver a lecture on Friday, March 27, from 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM about the Geuzen resistance and how its message continues to resonate today. The lecture will take place in the Civic Hall of the town hall—a deliberate choice, as this was the exact location where the Geuzen were imprisoned during World War II. Where the town hall extension has stood since 1963, the Vlaardingen police station once operated. The lecture is free of charge. Registration is possible via.
(photos: Marco van der Caaij)