As part of Cultuur Krakers, a talent development program focused on cultural innovation, we worked as a multidisciplinary team to reimagine Museum van Loon through the perspective of younger audiences.
During this 12-week project, we (a mixed group of young culture enthousiasts) visited Museum van Loon in Amsterdam and had workshops with several professionals from the cultural sector. Based on these insights, our research and observation, we developed a concept that activates the museum experience for youth while remaining respectful to the historic house and its collection.
After analysing the spatial layout, narrative structure, and existing visitor experience, we found three key aspects that are missing in the museum experience for younger audiences: multiperspectivity, dialogue, and participation. The ultimate goal was to make the museum feel like a home for everyone, a place where visitors can reflect, connect, and actively explore the house and its history.
The Museum Van Loon is filled with beautiful mirrors, naturally inviting visitors to look at themselves. In our concept “Reflecteer en woon in Van Loon”, these mirrors are transformed into prompts for reflection. Each mirror poses a question linking the museum’s themes to the visitor’s own experience, turning passive observation into active engagement and bridging past and present.
The route begins and ends in the living room, a warm and welcoming space where visitors can reflect, share stories and engage with both their own reflections and those of others. In this way, the museum becomes a home for everyone, encouraging visitors to reflect, explore, and see the house and its history through multiple perspectives.