Discovery Museum

Great museum.
Kids learn in a fun way about science and technology.
The presentation "Revolutie aarde" is really worth it. Interactive, with beautiful images and it teaches children the importance of taking care of or planet.

The Discovery Museum was a blast! Our daughter Simonka had a great time, especially making slime at the end. It's a fantastic learning experience for kids. Highly recommend for families looking for fun and educational outings!

We were harassed by teenagers from a school group that were running wild and going a bit crazy, some kids that were not properly supervised by their school. I was with my young son. It took some time for the museum staff to respond to the situation (and to believe us too I guess). A nice teenage girl from the same school group, who had observed the whole thing, seemed to help us out. I heard her sympathetically say “this isn’t right”. Perhaps she explained the situation to museum staff? Eventually the staff did properly respond to the situation. We really love the museum. We stayed in a hotel near Kerkrade specifically to visit this museum and the Gaia Zoo, which we had visited the day before. Gaia Zoo it must be said handles large crowds quite well. We will try to visit both places again as perhaps this is an isolated and rare situation at the Discovery Museum. I do not usually write reviews, but perhaps it is best to share our experience.

This is not just a boring museum. There are tons of interactive pieces which are not only interesting for kids. You can learn a lot and have fun. For example could you play to be a surgeon and try out a 3D scalpel.
Also facilities are very good. There a many toilets and you can also find a cafe to have a snack. You can leave your stuff in lockers if you find a free one.

Entrance feels pricy but it’s worth.

An amazing museum. A must see. Not even once is enough. My plan once a year. 😊
Specially for schools to do annual tours.
In total 5 Stars although challenges that I hope to improve.
Most of the information signs are in Dutch and German, not much in English unfortunately.
Although in some sections there were 3 languages and wonderful.
I didn’t see rubbish bins in the halls.
My son saw the Lego photo on the profile and wanted that section but apparently no Lego section exist anymore. Pity.
Very interactive. Be ready to spend hours. We were there for 4 hours and still my son wanted to stay and still we didn’t see all parts.
Building
Has an interesting architecture but I didn’t find any sign mentioning who designed and how long it took to design/build it.
Movie
In certain times they show movies that we missed. Lack of time.
Lab
Chemistry lab needs registering on site. Lack of time and we missed it. Didn’t see a staff to ask about age limit et cet. But certainly kids were wearing nice lab coats and all excited in the lab.
Cafe
nice and has a few good options, though not cheap.
Shop
has variety of nice games for kids. Quite number of educational games but not cheap unfortunately. 😅
Travel
From Aachen Bushof with two buses. Not that bad. One to Kerkrade or Herzogenrath and second one till the museum. Just in front of the museum.
Ticket
Entrance ticket not cheap. Around 16€ although covers a whole day, 11-5. Free for under 5yo.
But pity no discount for students.
Wonderful to hear they partner with OecherLab for science camp for schools.

Suggestions:
-A Lab for One health, with sections on biodiversity, Showing parasites, a few science art paintings et cet.
Showing the relationship of human health, animal health and environment health.
Or a big Biology lab with sectors for health, biodiversity… microscopes…

-More of Science communicator staff (with a more visible uniform) walking around and interacting with kids & parents.
Am sure museum can use the potential of volunteers (students or scientists) to volunteer as science communicators.
Even myself ready to volunteer

-Putting a few chairs around for adults to sit and rest can be useful.
You can imagine I had to follow my son for more than 3 hours 😅

-Use volunteers, one myself, to add more English and perhaps plans for future sections.

-Perhaps Stadtaachen can support one direct bus per weekend at least. Am sure many will like this.

-Entrance ticket discount for pupils and students.
Or maybe award tickets for schools to encourage youth to visit

Superb museum for children and even adults. The movie and the experience of “seeing the earth “is amazing. Will come back again when my boys grow older!