The pride of Dutch history
Every Dutch child learns about the history of the Netherlands in school. Lessons cover the main themes, events and people, and the syllabus is divided under 50 main headings. The first of these is Prehistory and the symbol for this study period is, not surprisingly, the hunebed. So Dutch history begins more or less with the hunebed builders, one of the earliest farming cultures.
Structure and support for the school lessons is provided by a network of museums where visitors can come face to face with real historical objects. The Hunebed Centre is home to five top pieces which illustrate the prehistoric theme:
- The largest hunebed in the Netherlands
- A polished axe
- A funnel-shaped beaker, typical pottery of the hunebed builders
- A Stone Age house
- A Stone Age field
While the hunebeds are the first subject in the history lessons, there are of course many other objects which define Dutch history. Examples can be found and admired in many Dutch museums, and an overview of all objects can be found in a special display in the Open Air Museum in Arnhem.
