Humans at the border
Valkhof Museum, Nijmegen (NL), 2026
Go on a boundary-crossing journey through Valkhof Museum and discover the history of Nijmegen and the region, connected to the present day. A clear narrative and a variety of interpretive tools make both the historical collection and contemporary art accessible and meaningful.
Borders as point of departure
How do you make a collection spanning thousands of years relevant to a broad audience? That was the question behind the redevelopment of Valkhof Museum. Together with the museum team, Studio Louter developed the exhibition concept Humans at the border and the borders of humanity and was involved from design to delivery. For centuries, Nijmegen stood at the border of different empires and influences, while being a meeting place for people, ideas and objects. From national borders to social boundaries, from trade to identity, the collection reveals how borders can both divide and connect.
Navigating the collection
The collection includes prehistoric artefacts, Roman highlights, medieval treasures and nineteenth-century art. While this diversity is a strength, it also poses a challenge: how do you help visitors navigate so many objects and stories? Through a clear narrative framework, carefully designed interpretive media and a well-defined information hierarchy, we made the collection both accessible and enriching, allowing room for different levels of engagement.
Cohesion through structure
In the chronological exhibition Humans at the Border, visitors move through eight historical periods, each with its own spatial identity. A consistent interpretive grammar creates coherence. The Guide Objects play a key role: recognisable anchor points help visitors navigate the exhibition. Border Breakers establish connections between past and present, while Border Reflections invite visitors to consider the boundaries they encounter in their own lives.
From within
In the transhistorical presentation From Within, the focus shifts to the second part of the concept: the borders of humanity. Studio Louter developed the curatorial framework and brief for five artists. Contemporary artworks and collection objects come together in installations on fear, sadness, joy, anger and wonder. We also developed an interactive installation that encourages visitors to view the collection through an emotional lens.
Together, both presentations create a museum experience in which history is not only told, but also felt.
Foto’s door Ivar Pel
‘This should no longer be a place where visitors quietly shuffle past display cases, but a vibrant building where archaeology, history, visions of the future and contemporary art come together.’
Hedwig Saam, Director of Valkhof Museum, De Telegraaf — June 2026
Credits
Client
Valkhof MuseumContent design
Studio LouterSpatial Design
OPERA AmsterdamInteractive Media
Kiss the FrogFilm Poduction
RedrumConstruction
Bruns