SuperPasTime - Madurodam miniature city

Madurodam, miniature town in Den Haag, halfway between Den Haag and Scheveningen, the Netherlands. See miniature models of all the famous Dutch buildings and sights.

Madurodam is a stylized version of a Dutch town constructed on a 1:25 scale. The money was put up by one J.M.L. Maduro, who wished to establish a memorial to his son, George, who had distinguished himself during the Nazi invasion of 1940 and died in Dachau concentration camp five years later. There's a memorial to him just by the entrance, and profits from the Miniature Town are still used for general Dutch social and cultural activities. The replica town itself is extremely popular – so be prepared to queue.

Madurodam was officially opened on 2 July 1952. This amusement park has a very interesting history. It was established for two reasons: as a war monument and as a charity foundation. The joint initiators were Mrs. B. Boon-van der Starp and Mr. and Mrs. J.M.L. Maduro. Architect S.J. Bouma, who in those days managed the Zuiderzee Museum in Enkhuizen, was happy to contribute to building a miniature city. The central theme was: the small city with a smile.

The design of Madurodam has not been changed since 1952. In 1996 Madurodam expended. The entrance, consisting of two dykes and a big lighthouse and some new models were made as also two multifunctional conference rooms and a exhibition hall. The biggest building project after the opening is the renewed Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.

In 2003 the new airport was opened after a complete renovation. Apart from a new entrance, consisting of two dykes and a large lighthouse, Madurodam was also extended with features such as a large second port, a city of the future and scale models of various bridges such as the Rotterdam Erasmus bridge and the railway lift bridge near Dordrecht.

Madurodam is Holland’s smallest city. 16.000 inhabitants live in houses, apartments or farmsteads. They cover each year 14.000 km by car and 16.000 km by train. There are 4542 cars and trucks, and 8 motorways. The city boasts 10 museums, 5 train stations, 4 churches, 3 theatres, 27 bridges, 1 post-office, 58 ships, 3150 lamp posts, 30.000 bulbs, mainly tulips. There is one school, one university, and one hotel. Town houses, flats, appartments, office buildings, castles, windmills, farmsteads, a beach and a zoo are places where the Madurodamers work, live and relax.

The tallest building is 25m high and houses the Rotterdam Insurance Company. The façade is entirely made of glass and a window cleaners’ nightmare. Madurodam offers a variety of architectural styles, from the Gothic St. Jan Basilica to the modern bridge dwellings, houses that span a river, and everything in between.

There are many typical Dutch landmarks: canals and canal houses, Dam Square and the Royal Palace, Anne Frank House, Skinny Bridge, Rijksmuseum, Dom Tower, and Cheese Market. The highway within Madurodam features a constant procession of cars, the harbor is a hub of activity and the airport is always busy.

Madurodam has always had a special relation with the Dutch Royal Family. It was a great surprise when the then Queen of the Netherlands, Juliana, consented that her daughter, the 14-year old Crown Princess Beatrix, should become the mayor of the miniature city. Until her accession to the throne in 1980 she fulfilled her job as mayor. Through the years, many members of the Royal Family have attended special events in Madurodam. On 2 July 2002 Queen Beatrix revealed the new Golden Coach on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Madurodam.