War Museums - Museum Bronbeek

Museum Bronbeek - Arnhem - The Netherlands

Address: Velperweg 147, Arnhem (See map)
Telephone: +31 (0)26 3763555
Website: http://www.dico.nl/ktomm/index.html

Shop: shop present
Restaurant/refreshments: restaurant
Size of the museum/site: medium
Year of visit: 2002
Overall rating:

Description: The Bronbeek Museum finds its origin in 1863, when king Willem III of The Netherlands decided to establish a Royal Home for 'his' former soldiers of the Royal Dutch Indian Army (KNIL) on one of his estates. He wanted them to live amidst their memories. Museum Bronbeek was born! Nowadays some 45 veterans are still housed in this home and the 'collection of memorabilia' has become a real museum. The museum is one of the oldest museums in the Netherlands.

The main subjects of the museum are the history of the "Koninklijk Nederlands-Indisch Leger" (KNIL) and life in the Dutch East Indies in general. This interesting and sometimes bloody history is revealed with the help of items like: cannons, uniforms, swords, medals, posters, weapons and much, much more.

Don't forget to drink a cup of coffee with 'spekkoek' or eat something in the Kumpulan Restaurant. Out of experience we can say that the food tastes delicious!

Statue to remember establishment and abolishment of the "KNIL" (Royal Dutch Indies Army).

The military home where the museum is situated in.

One of the many heavy cannons on display in Bronbeek.

A life-like Ambonese soldier fighting with the VOC (the "Verenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie" meaning United East-Indian Company, which was a Dutch military-economic organisation active in the trading of colonial goods).

Artillery soldiers attaching an anti-aircraft gun to a Vickers tracked vehicle.

Equipment of a Japanese soldier and on the right the Japanese imperial flag (identifiable by the red stripes).

This flag carries the names of a small group of Dutch soldiers (stationed at New Guinea) who managed to stay out of Japanese hands during the entire Second World War and doing so they were able to fight a guerilla-war.

Soldier sitting on a typically Indonesian Riksja.

On the right: a captain of the Special Forces 1949. Standing on the left is a soldier with a Bren-gun.

Propaganda poster used in Indonesia.


Statue to remember establishment and abolishment of the "KNIL" (Royal Dutch Indies Army).	The military home where the museum is situated in.

One of the many heavy cannons on display in Bronbeek.	A life-like Ambonese soldier fighting with the VOC (the "Verenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie" meaning United East-Indian Company, which was a Dutch military-economic organisation active in the trading of colonial goods).

Artillery soldiers attaching an anti-aircraft gun to a Vickers tracked vehicle.	Equipment of a Japanese soldier and on the right the Japanese imperial flag (identifiable by the red stripes).

This flag carries the names of a small group of Dutch soldiers (stationed at New Guinea) who managed to stay out of Japanese hands during the entire Second World War and doing so they were able to fight a guerilla-war.	Soldier sitting on a typically Indonesian Riksja.

On the right: a captain of the Special Forces 1949. Standing on the left is a soldier with a Bren-gun.	Propaganda poster used in Indonesia.