Hellendoorn Public Observatory

Inside the Sallandse Heuvelrug nature reserve near Nijverdal in the Netherlands, Hellendoorn Public Observatory gives visitors a chance to look at the sky from one of the darker corners of the country.

About Hellendoorn Public Observatory

The observatory is housed within the Buitencentrum Sallandse Heuvelrug, the reserve's outdoor visitor centre, and is nicknamed the "Theatre of the Cosmos." It's run by volunteers under the Stichting Publiekssterrenwacht Hellendoorn, a foundation established in 2002.

History

The observatory opened in 2013, with the official opening performed by Dutch astronaut André Kuipers, adding a fitting touch of real spaceflight history to its launch.

Telescopes & research

Facilities include a planetarium, a solar observatory for safely viewing the sun, a radio telescope, and multiple telescopes for public stargazing sessions, all aimed at introducing visitors of any experience level to astronomy.

Location & getting there

The observatory sits within the Sallandse Heuvelrug, a national park known for its heathland and comparatively low light pollution, making it a genuinely useful spot for naked-eye and telescope viewing after dark.

Visiting Hellendoorn Public Observatory

The observatory is open daily from 10:00 to 17:00. Because it's run by volunteers and shares space with the nature reserve's visitor centre, it's worth checking the current programme on its website before a visit, especially for evening stargazing sessions.

See your named star from here

With genuinely dark skies on its doorstep, Hellendoorn is a good place to try and find the star you've named with Star Register. Look up its coordinates in our star catalogue and ask the observatory's volunteers for help pointing a telescope toward it.