Tropenmuseum Junior Named Best in World

Tropenmuseum Junior has won the 2012 World Children's Museum Award. The prestigious prize was issued by the European Academy Museum and Hands On! International from a list of 28 candidates from Norway to the Philippines, Spain and Singapore.

The jury praised Tropenmuseum Junior for their high degree of creativity and the effectiveness of their exhibitions. "Tropenmuseum Junior has been a model for other museums and museum professionals. At Tropenmuseum Junior, the visitor feels part of the exhibition. The visit is an educational, fun and rewarding experience."

Tropenmuseum Junior, part of the Royal Tropical Institute, is designed for youngsters aged six to 13-years-old. Since its foundation in 1975, the museum has been praised for its unique approach to childhood learning. Convinced that true understanding comes from active involvement, the museum stimulates children mentally and emotionally by informing them about the world. The exhibitions, offering immersive experiences, are aimed at making children curious and open to different cultures, helping them to grow up into tolerant, respectful world citizens.

The museum's exhibitions run for 1.5 years, and have focused on China, Mumbai, India, Iran, Ashanti, Ghana and Bolivia. Each has welcomed an average 30,000 young visitors each year.

Tropenmuseum Junior is currently busy with their latest exhibition, MixMax Brasil, set to open in mid-October 2012. With the help of artists from Pernambuco, the exhibition will recreate a vibrant district of the South American country. Introducing children to the sights, sounds and movements of their culture, the museum will construct a mangrove tunnel, dance and music studios, and factories for children - and adults - to explore.