Tip: Unique art museum at Haarlem station attracts 3,500 visitors in its first year

The Museum for Applied European Art (MUTEK) in Haarlem has attracted over 3,500 visitors during its first year of operation. Founded by art historian Robert van Rhijn, the unique facility is located within the historic, Jugendstil-style Haarlem railway station, occupying a former second-class waiting room. The museum houses a vast collection of decorative art objects that Van Rhijn has spent over a decade acquiring, ranging from late 19th-century pieces to modern industrial designs.

Van Rhijn's collection features nearly 1,000 items, including furniture, jewelry, and lamps, which are showcased through rotating exhibitions. The museum's location at a functioning train station is rare, with similar examples found only in Tokyo. Visitors can access the gallery by passing through the station gates, with a special check-out procedure in place for museum guests to avoid travel charges. Future plans include an exhibition featuring historic railway posters that were originally displayed at the station a century ago.