Watchtower

Outpost of the Castellum

Climb to the top of a true replica of a Roman watchtower and experience life as a sentry at the edge of the Roman world. What was it like to live at this outpost, day in day out, with just a handful of soldiers? What did they eat, what did they do all day, and what sorts of threats did they have to fend off? Find the answers in the watchtower. . . > read more

Ship and limes

A unique time capsule

The Roman ship De Meern 1 has been called ‘a piece of Pompeii in northern Europe’. Wrecked for reasons unknown more than 1,800 years ago, this cargo vessel sank with all its contents on board, leaving behind a rare time capsule of life on an inland vessel during the glory days of the Roman Empire... > read more

ArcheoLab

Unravel the past with archaeologists

Discover what it's like to work as an archaeologist. All are welcome at the ArcheoHotspot, where archaeology comes alive. Guided by our enthusiastic volunteers, visitors can help out with ongoing archaeological research. Roll up your sleeves and experience what it's like to work with materials excavated in Utrecht... > read more

Windows onto the fort

A 3D-dive into the Roman past

Nowhere else in the Netherlands can you walk along the ramparts of a rebuilt Roman fort. The view from the defensive wall offers a life-size experience of the Castellum and all that went with it, while the 3D 'time windows' give a glimpse inside a typical garrison town at the outer reaches of the Roman Empire... > read more

Man and animal

A time machine about an everlasting theme

Take a seat in our marvellous 'time machine' and discover how the worlds of humans and animals have intersected since the dawn of time. Animals have always been much more than just a food source for humans. This journey through time takes you back to a forgotten world of special friendships, plagues and disease, and status symbols and magic... > read more

Bathing complex

A wonder of opulence

In the Castellum's forecourt, ornamental grass indicates the floor plan of the bathhouse that once stood in this spot. The foundations are extraordinarily well preserved for baths this far north. With its high vaults, underfloor heating and ornamented walls, this sauna complex was a marvel of Roman opulence around the year 200... > read more

3,000 years of life and labour

Man and landscape through the ages

Step into the shoes of an archaeologist and discover how human habitation has influenced the surrounding landscape from prehistory to the present day. The world as we know it has been shaped by generations of hunters, livestock and crop farmers, craftsmen, soldiers, knights and villagers over time. Learn how in '3,000 years of life and labour', an exhibition that takes you on a fascinating trip through time... > read more

Picturing the past

Everything is real...

Walking around the park at Castellum Hoge Woerd, you're surrounded by relics of the Roman past: the river than ran along this spot, the roads leading to Rome, the once bustling bathhouse, the camp village with its mix of cultures – and, of course, the Castellum itself! They transport you to the garrison town that used to guard this stretch of the Roman Empire's northern border... > read more