Sarner to Design Major New Exhibition for Museum of Literature / Children's Book Museum
Sarner is delighted to announce its appointment, following a competitive international tender, by the Museum of Literature / Children's Book Museum (Literatuurmuseum / Kinderboekenmuseum) to design two distinct exhibition areas as part of the museum’s landmark relocation.
In 2027, the Museum will move from The Hague to the historic centre of Utrecht, taking up residence in the monumental Magazijn De Zon building. The move marks an exciting new chapter for the institution, which will reopen with a full suite of interactive and immersive exhibitions designed to engage and inspire visitors of all ages.
This new commission builds on Sarner’s extensive portfolio of literary-themed experiences, including the immersive exhibition for the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust opened earlier this year, which reimagines Shakespeare’s formative years and the creative influences that shaped his genius.
For the Museum of Literature / Children's Book Museum, Sarner will create both a dynamic, interactive exhibition for adult audiences (18+) and a dramatic immersive installation within the museum’s medieval vaults - two distinctive experiences that together celebrate the richness and imagination of Dutch literary heritage.
Interactive Exhibition
On the upper floors, Sarner is developing a vibrant, object-rich exhibition that celebrates the museum’s world-renowned collection of literary artefacts. This exhibition takes a thematic approach to exploring stories and creative expression. Through interactive media, tactile installations, and immersive storytelling, visitors discover the world of Dutch literature in vivid, emotional, and often surprising ways.
From the moment they arrive, guests will create a personal reading profile, which discreetly tracks their interactions throughout the exhibition. This culminates in a customised list of literary recommendations - a personal takeaway that keeps the story alive long after the visit.
At the heart of the experience, three immersive “story boxes” invite visitors to discover, experience and create stories through different perspectives - reflection on the self, on relationships, and on the wider world.
Immersive Vault Experience
Beneath the galleries, the medieval vaults will host a bold, multisensory installation that connects visitors to Dutch literary heritage on a deeply emotional level. The vaults reimagine the museum’s extensive literary archive as a “treasure-trove of imagination”, with each vault exploring themes that have inspired writers through the ages and showcasing the richness of the museum’s archive.
Combining set design, digital storytelling, soundscapes, lighting, and sensory effects, the installation harnesses the dramatic architecture of the vaults to create a visually spectacular and moving experience. Visitors are invited to step inside the creative minds of writers and reflect on the universal forces that inspire artistic expression.
Together, the interactive exhibition and immersive vault installation function as stand-alone attractions, yet form a unified journey through Dutch literature - celebrating imagination, creativity, and the enduring power of stories.
About Museum of Literature / Children's Book Museum (Literatuurmuseum / Kinderboekenmuseum)
The Museum is one of 26 national museums in the Netherlands and its mission is to make the wealth of Dutch literary heritage both visible and tangible. It enables the widest possible audience to discover, experience and create literary stories. The organisation has a dual societal mission. On the one hand, the organisation is the national archive for literary heritage, making this heritage available for research and introducing new generations to Dutch literary past. On the other hand, the institution has a museum function. As a family museum, it offers its visitors a spatial literary experience, challenging them to participate. Every year, the Museum attracts around 150,000 visitors. To find out more, visit https://literatuurmuseum.nl/en
About Sarner International
With over 50 years of experience in the industry, Sarner is a leading international experiential design and production practice behind many of the world's best-loved immersive exhibitions, museums, attractions, theme parks and branded destinations. An experienced team with a proven track record in delivering attractions that stand out from the competition, Sarner has a global reputation for creating award-winning destinations that spark wonder, drive recommendations and boost visitor numbers. To find out more, visit https://sarner.com
