Tax and Customs Museum

On November 5, 1937, the Tax Museum was officially founded, thanks to an initiative by Professor Dr. J. van der Poel, director of the National Tax Academy. His goal was clear: to teach students about the history of taxation through real, tangible objects from a remarkable collection.

Today, the Tax & Customs Museum brings the world of taxes and customs to life in surprising ways. A visit takes you through the history of taxation and into the fascinating world of customs, where tales of smuggling come vividly to life. This year, customs take center stage with a special spotlight on bizarre items that have been confiscated.

The temporary exhibition “Precious Cargo” features an extraordinary range of seized goods—from a bear’s head and exotic birds of paradise to seahorse liqueur and an elephant’s foot turned into an umbrella stand. Each item reveals a hidden world of what people try to sneak across borders—and what customs officials manage to intercept.

Also new is the “Customs Experience,” where you travel back over four centuries. You step into a time machine to explore how customs and taxes shaped everyday life.