Nijmegen, Valkhof

Q1127079

The Valkhof Museum in Nijmegen, the capital of the ancient Batavians, is one of the most important archaeological museums in the Netherlands. It has a splendid collection with finds from six Roman settlements:

the Kopse Hof (once the HQs of Drusus, later used as fort by a unit of mounted auxiliaries);
the Hunerberg (a legionary base, used by Drusus);
Batavodurum (a town destroyed during the Batavian Revolt in 69-70);
Ulpia Noviomagus (built after the revolt);
the Hunerberg (again in use as legionary base, by X Gemina, to control the Batavians);
the late-Roman castle at the Valkhof, almost at the site of former Batavodurum.

Many objects tell a little story. I select the silver medallion that once belonged to one Gnaeus Aquillius Proculus, centurio of the Eighth Legion Augusta, found at the Kopse Hof auxiliary fort. This man is known to have played a role during the Batavian Revolt. When the forts along the lower Rhine were attacked, he was able to bring the garrisons to Nijmegen, where they were – for the time being – safe.

This would have been interesting enough: it is not often that archaeologists find an object that belonged to someone we know from the written sources. However, the object proves something else: that shortly before the revolt, the Romans sent soldiers of the Eighth legion Augusta, which was at that moment stationed at Sishtov in Bulgaria, to Nijmegen. This strongly suggests that the Romans were aware that the Batavians were becoming restless, which proves that the governor, Hordeonius Flaccus, was more capable than the historian Tacitus wants us to believe. He presents us with a Roman commander who is incompetent, indolent, and decadent, but archaeology proves otherwise.

The museum, which offers several other collections and a splendid view on the Nijmegen bridge (of World War II fame), is closed on Mondays. You can find photos from the museum here and here.

This museum was visited in a/o 2008-2019.

78 pictures related to this museum

Nijmegen, Kops Plateau, Helmet	Nijmegen, Tombstone of Scanius of X Gemina	Berg en dal, Silver pan, handle with portrait of Tyche or Cybele	Nijmegen, Crystal dice
Ulpia Severina	Cavalry mask, found in the river Waal	Cavalry mask, found in the river Waal	Nijmegen, Noviomagus, Double temple, Mercury
Nijmegen, Noviomagus, Double temple, Fortuna	Faustina II	Cavalry mask, found in the river Waal	Coin of Vespasian, showing a personification of Judaea mourning the loss of her independence. Legend: JUDAEA CAPTA, "Judaea conquered".
Nijmegen, Oil lamp, Mercury	Nijmegen-Hunerberg, Civil settlement, Unfinished bronze statuette of Luna	Rome, Forum Romanum, Temple of Janus, Coin	Nijmegen-Hunerberg, Cavalry mask from the Beekmansdal
Tiel, Runic inscription	Valentinian I	Nijmegen, Late Roman pottery	Nijmegen-Hunerberg, Officers' mansion, Wall painting of a deer and a peacock
Nijmegen-Hunerberg, Rim of an amphora, mentioning its Macedonian owner	Otacilia Severa	Berg en Dal, Pottery factory, Tile with shoe print	Berg en Dal, Pottery factory, Tile
Nijmegen, Bridge, pile-shoe	Nijmegen, Inscription mentioning three relatives in X Gemina	Nijmegen, Oil lamp, erotic scene	Nijmegen, Valkhof, Oil lamp with Victoria
Bronze object mentioning LEG HISP IX, from Ewijk	Julia Maesa	Nijmegen, Agraphe with christogram	Nijmegen-Hunerberg, Early Helmet
Nijmegen, Monument to Tiberius: Apollo	Nijmegen, Batavian horsemen	Nijmegen, Kops Plateau, Imported mackerel	Nijmegen, Kops Plateau, Aquillius Medal
Elst, Temple, Model	Nijmegen, Terra sigillata	Roman coin, commemorating the annexation of Arabia Nabataea	Nijmegen, British mirror
Nijmegen, Glass vase	Julia Soeamias	Copy of an inscription from Rome, mentioning Noviomagus	Aquilia Severa
Coin commemorating Drusus' German victories, minted by his son Claudius	Elst, Temple, Fragment of a wall painting	Tiberius	Nijmegen, Amber portait of a girl
Nijmegen, Monument to Tiberius: Diana	Nijmegen, Ring of a shoemaker	Nijmegen, Oil lamp with gladiators saluting the organizer of the games	The Herwen Mole Inscription
Beek, Milestone	Nijmegen, Crystal ring	Elst, Temple, diploma	Cornelia Superia
Nijmegen, Dedication to the Mopatian Mothers by Liberius	Nijmegen, Kops Plateau, Helmet	Lucilla	Cavalry mask, found in the river Waal
Nijmegen, Dedication by Candidinius, signifer of XXX Ulpia Victrix	Nijmegen, Tambourine of a girl of about ten years old	Herennia Etruscilla	Nijmegen, terra sigillata with an inscription "Carnuntum"
Lent, Frankish sword and spear	Nijmegen, Tomb of a girl of about ten years old	Nijmegen, Oil lamp, Jupiter and his eagle	Nijmegen, Monument to Tiberius: Ceres
Theodosius I	Nijmegen, Inscription of Bisius of X Gemina	Berg en Dal, Pottery factory, Dedication to Vesta	Nijmegen, Inscription of an aquilifer of X Gemina
Nijmegen, Monument to Tiberius: sacrifice	Nijmegen, Amber carving of Amor	Nijmegen, terra sigillata with the Thracian name "Mucatra"	Berg en dal, Silver pan
Nijmegen, Tomb of a girl of about ten years old	Nijmegen, Objects from the tomb of a fourth-century lady