Rijksmuseum van Natuurlijke Historie, Natural history museum in Leiden, Netherlands
The Rijksmuseum van Natuurlijke Historie is a natural history museum in Leiden featuring one of the world's largest collections of fossils, minerals, preserved animals, and plant specimens. The exhibits display mounted animals, skeletons, rocks, and historical items from regions across the globe.
The museum was founded in 1820 by combining three separate natural history collections into one facility. Since then it has grown into a major research institution attracting scientists from around the world.
The museum works closely with Leiden University, and visitors can observe how researchers examine specimens to understand the natural world. You get a sense of how scientific work connects directly to the collections on display.
The museum is centrally located in Leiden and accessible by public transportation. The exhibits are clearly organized and easy to navigate, making it simple to explore different sections at your own pace.
The museum uses moving robotic displays to show how animals behave in nature with realistic movements. These installations give visitors a sense of how creatures actually move and interact.
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