The Bonnefanten Museum is a museum of art and crafts in Maastricht, the Netherlands. It was founded in 1884 as a museum of archaeology and antiquities in the province of Limburg. It took its name from the Couvent des Bons-Enfants, a former 17th-century monastery in the center of Maastricht that housed its facilities between 1951 and 1978. The current building was built in 1995 by the Italian architect Aldo Rossi. It is located on the banks of the Meuse river in the Céramique district, a former industrial area redeveloped in the 1990s. The Bonnefanten Museum presents an interesting combination of artistic periods. The collection is divided into a section of ancient art, including paintings, sculptures and objects of applied arts dating from 1000 to 1700, and a section of contemporary art.
The ticket price for the Bonnefanten Museum is €12.50 for adults, €6 for students and free for children under 18. There are also discounts for groups, seniors and holders of certain cards.
The Bonnefanten Museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 11:00 to 17:00. It is closed on Mondays and some holidays.
To get to the Bonnefanten Museum, you can take public transport, bike or car. The nearest bus stop is Centre Céramique/Plein 1992, which is served by lines 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10. There are bike racks near the entrance of the museum and a bike rental service at the central station. If you come by car, you can park at Plein 1992 or Avenue Céramique parking garages, which are both within walking distance of the museum.
At the Bonnefanten Museum, you can see a variety of artworks from different periods and regions. Some of the highlights are:
- The collection of ancient art, which features wooden sculptures from 1200 to 1550, especially the works of Jan van Steffeswert and the Master of Elsloo. There are also paintings by Flemish primitives such as Jan van Eyck and Hans Memling, as well as Dutch masters such as Pieter Brueghel the Younger and Jacob Jordaens.
- The collection of contemporary art, which includes works by international artists such as Sol LeWitt, Richard Serra, Bruce Nauman and Andy Warhol. There are also works by regional artists such as Marlene Dumas, Toon Verhoef and Charles Vandenhove.
- The temporary exhibitions, which showcase diverse themes and genres of art. For example, in 2023 there will be exhibitions on medieval manuscripts, Chinese contemporary art and African photography.
Some tips for visiting the Bonnefanten Museum are:
- Plan your visit ahead by checking the website for opening hours, ticket prices and current exhibitions.
- Download the free app for your smartphone or tablet to get more information about the artworks and listen to audio guides.
- Enjoy a coffee or a snack at the museum café or shop for souvenirs at the museum shop.
- Take advantage of the free guided tours that are offered every Sunday at 14:00.
The Bonnefanten Museum also offers tours for groups, schools and families. You can book a tour online or by phone at least two weeks in advance. The tours are tailored to your preferences and interests and can be given in different languages. The price for a tour is €75 per group (maximum 15 people) plus admission fee.
The Bonnefanten Museum has some prohibitions that visitors should respect. These are:
- Do not touch the artworks or lean on the walls or showcases.
- Do not take photos or videos with flash or tripod.
- Do not bring large bags or backpacks into the exhibition rooms. You can leave them at the cloakroom for free.
- Do not bring food or drinks into the exhibition rooms. You can consume them at the café or outside.
- Do not smoke inside or outside the museum.
