Planetarium Zuylenburgh, Mechanical planetarium in Oud-Zuilen, Netherlands.
Planetarium Zuylenburgh is a mechanical system installed in a historic house that displays the movements of planets and stars through an intricate arrangement of gears. The celestial bodies are mounted on the ceiling and move along their actual orbital paths, operated by hidden mechanical components beneath.
The residence Zuylenburgh dates from 1752 and received its mechanical planetarium in 2009, built according to original drawings by Dutch astronomer Eise Eisinga. This addition blends the house's long history with precision astronomical craftsmanship from earlier centuries.
This facility represents the third mechanical planetarium in the Netherlands, maintaining traditional Dutch astronomical instrument crafting methods through precise handmade components.
This private residence on Dorpsstraat requires advance booking by email before visiting, as it operates within a family home. Plan to contact the owners well ahead of your trip to arrange a convenient time for entry.
The planets move at their actual orbital speeds along carved grooves in the ceiling, so slowly that human eyes cannot detect the motion. Although invisible in motion, the system precisely tracks the position of each celestial body across extended periods of time.
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