Scheepstra Kabinet: back to the classroom

The brick façade of the old Scheepstraschool with tall windows under pale arches, a hipped roof and a cobbled street in front; bicycles stand on the left and a pavement sign on the right. — The old Scheepstraschool of 1894 in Roden, home of the Scheepstra Kabinet.Photo: Scheepstra Kabinet

A classroom from a hundred years ago

The Scheepstra Kabinet is a small museum in memory of Hindericus Scheepstra, the author of the little books about Ot en Sien, two neighbours’ children he created for teaching reading, and more besides. It is housed in the old Scheepstraschool, a school building from 1894 in Roden.

The museum is set up as an old classroom from around a hundred years ago. Naturally it has the letter board with aap – noot – mies, the first words generations of Dutch children learned to read, as well as the class wall chart and old school desks. The display cases hold everything about Hindericus Scheepstra, with many of his little books and the objects that go with them.

Poster for the exhibition Toen Getekend, Nu Gekiekt: an old school wall chart with herons, lapwings and ducks by the water, with a photograph of a grey heron by André Brasse below. — Poster for the temporary exhibition Toen Getekend, Nu Gekiekt, from 6 September to 29 November 2026.Photo: Scheepstra Kabinet

Back at a school desk

You are welcome to sit at the desks and write: with a slate pencil on a slate, or with a dip pen and ink from the inkwells in the desk, in lined exercise books.

Video films tell the story of Scheepstra and of education in the past, with former pupils and former teachers sharing their memories.

A long corridor with a tiled floor, green doors on both sides, rows of coat hooks along the yellow walls and an arch above the front door at the far end. — The corridor of the old Scheepstraschool, with the old coat hooks.Photo: Scheepstra Kabinet

Temporary exhibition and museum shop

Every year from September to November there is a temporary exhibition in a classroom next to the museum, in the old Scheepstraschool. In 2026 it is ‘Toen getekend, nu gekiekt’ (drawn then, snapped now), from 6 September to 29 November: a selection of old school wall charts, mainly by Koekkoek, alongside present-day photographs by the nature photographer André Brasse from Roden. In 2027 the exhibition will be about punishment and reward.

During Oktober Kindermaand, the children’s month, admission is free for children aged 4 to 12 on weekends up to and including 31 October 2026. Outside, you can play hopscotch and games by the pictures from the reading board. The museum shop sells all kinds of things, even authentic Ot en Sien books.

A girl in a white apron and a boy in a cap, dressed up as Ot en Sien, sit wearing headphones in a round niche painted as a barrel; yellow clogs stand in front. — Dressed up as Ot en Sien in the barrel, where you can listen to stories about the pair.Photo: Scheepstra Kabinet

Before you go

Regular weekend visits in the season; there are several exceptions around public holidays and events. Groups all year round by appointment.

Sources

This text is based on information supplied by the Scheepstra Kabinet itself in October 2026 and on the museum’s website, consulted in October 2026. The photographs are by the Scheepstra Kabinet. Please check opening hours and prices on scheepstrakabinet.nl before your visit.