Eise Eisinga Planetarium
Franeker, Netherlands
A working model of the solar system built into the ceiling of a wool-comber’s living room in the 1770s, the oldest still-operating planetarium in the world.
The Eise Eisinga Planetarium in Franeker in the Dutch province of Friesland is regarded as the oldest working planetarium in the world. The wool carder and amateur astronomer Eise Eisinga built it into the ceiling of his living room between 1774 and 1781; the mechanism sits mostly above it.
The solar system model is built to a scale of 1 millimetre to 1 million kilometres. It is driven by a pendulum clock with nine weights, and about 10,000 handmade nails were used for the gears. Every four years the model has to be reset by hand to allow for the leap day. Eisinga's former wool-combing workshops are on permanent display.
In September 2023 the planetarium was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. Please check opening hours and tickets with the museum in advance; Wikivoyage gives no planetarium times for Franeker.
- Nearest town
- Franeker, Netherlands
- Category
- Roadside oddities
- GPS
- 53.1868, 5.5433
- Editor's pick
- ★
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually June–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in May and October. Cold, short days in January–February. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Getting there
- Netherlands: No motorway tolls for cars. 100 km/h on motorways between 6:00 and 19:00.
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
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Campsites nearby
- Boerencamping Ny HeremaCampsite3 km from Eise Eisinga PlanetariumTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposal
- Minicamping De BrinkhoeveCampsite9 km from Eise Eisinga Planetarium · 15 pitchesTentsCaravansMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalDogs allowed
- Camperplaats de AppelhofMotorhome stopover9 km from Eise Eisinga Planetarium · 18 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalWi-Fi
- Camping de FinneCampsite14 km from Eise Eisinga Planetarium · 50 pitchesTentsCaravansShowersToiletsDogs allowedWi-Fi
- TaniaburgCampsite17 km from Eise Eisinga PlanetariumTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalDogs allowedWi-Fi
- Natuurkampeerterrein MartenastateCampsite17 km from Eise Eisinga PlanetariumTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToilets
All campsites in Netherlands · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Eise Eisinga Planetarium?
Eise Eisinga Planetarium is in Franeker, Netherlands, at GPS 53.1868, 5.5433. It is about 8 km from Harlingen.
Can you camp near Eise Eisinga Planetarium?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Camperplaats Kiesterzijl, about 3 km away; within 25 km there are 93 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Eise Eisinga Planetarium?
Eise Eisinga Planetarium is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Friesland and the Wadden coast.
What is there to see near Eise Eisinga Planetarium?
Places worth a stop nearby: Hindeloopen (29 km), Afsluitdijk (35 km), Zuiderzee Museum (56 km) and Giethoorn (61 km).
When is the best time to visit Eise Eisinga Planetarium?
The most pleasant months are usually June–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in May and October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)