Teaching museum visitors about the role of the Dutch armed forces in society
Many people assume the Dutch military exists solely to fight wars. This is a misconception. The Dutch army, navy, air force, and gendarmerie have played a wide range of roles throughout history. To showcase this, the National Military Museum (NMM) was built on the site of a former airbase in Soesterberg.
Project: Nationaal Militair Museum interactive exhibits
Client: Nationaal Militair Museum and Heijmans (2012)
Responsibilities: context research, interaction design
Goal
Before construction was finished, my team at Fabrique was tasked with designing nearly 30 interactive exhibits for the museum. The goal was to challenge visitors’ perceptions of the Dutch armed forces and demonstrate their diverse roles in society—past, present, and future—not just their involvement in warfare. Some exhibits aimed to educate, while others let visitors, especially younger ones, experience military life firsthand.
Approach
Heijmans, the project facilitator, provided a comprehensive blueprint book containing maps, renderings, and general design intent. This was our starting point for each interaction.
Each exhibit required varying levels of research and collaboration. Some involved studying military history and working with specialists like mapmakers and content creators, while others focused more on problem-solving. For one exhibit, I even visited the Dutch bomb squad (EOD) for firsthand insights.
My role was to translate ideas into flowcharts and wireframes. Once finalized, my visual design colleagues elevated these into high-fidelity designs, which were then developed into interactive experiences.
Results
I contributed to over ten interactive exhibits, covering a range of topics such as:
The Dutch military’s history and evolving role
The weapon industry and colonial past
The significance of uniforms
The changing Dutch borders over time
Experiences like flying jet fighters and driving tanks
These exhibits not only educate visitors but also engage them with the broader impact of the Dutch armed forces on society. Below are a few examples of the exhibits we created.