Nederlands Steendrukmuseum

Stone printing, or lithography. An old printing technique that is the basis of offset printing and also: ASML. In Valkenswaard you will find the Dutch Lithography Museum, which takes you through the development of lithography. There is also a space for a temporary exhibition: during my visit at the end of 2023 it was “Punt. Pointillism. Pop art. Pixels.” The link is clear. The temporary exhibition is about making paintings (and other works of art) by placing colored dots. Lots of dots. And if you place several dots of different colors next to each other, you can create an illustration. Or through the interaction between the colors of each point, also a different color. You already feel it coming: with it the explanation about printing. Because most printers only contain three colors, which together with black ink can produce all the colors of the rainbow. At the recommendation of the cheerful ladies behind the cash register, you start the permanent exhibition with a short film about the history and technology of lithography. This will then also help you understand the rest of the exhibition. Some machines from old to not so old, prints showing how everything from art to advertising work was made. Of course also the cigar bands, another piece of history from Brabant. There is also a corner about the step from stone printing to the technology for making microchips by ASML. The Steendruk museum is not a large museum. No halls full of more prints, more machines and a mega gift shop, no, just what is necessary. In another part you can look at the actual process while people are working there. Look and smell. Not only because of the smell of printing ink, but also the smell of turpentine oil which is used in the process to remove grease. The Dutch Stone Print Museum can easily be combined with a terrace on the Valkenswaard market. You are a Brabander/in Brabant or not. The Falconry and Cigar Making Museum is also located in the same building.

Stone printing, or lithography. An old printing technique that is the basis of offset printing and also: ASML. In Valkenswaard you will find the Dutch Lithography Museum, which takes you through the development of lithography. There is also a space for a temporary exhibition: during my visit at the end of 2023 it was “Punt. Pointillism. Pop art. Pixels.” The link is clear. The temporary exhibition is about making paintings (and other works of art) by placing colored dots. Lots of dots. And if you place several dots of different colors next to each other, you can create an illustration. Or through the interaction between the colors of each point, also a different color. You already feel it coming: with it the explanation about printing. Because most printers only contain three colors, which together with black ink can produce all the colors of the rainbow. At the recommendation of the cheerful ladies behind the cash register, you start the permanent exhibition with a short film about the history and technology of lithography. This will then also help you understand the rest of the exhibition. Some machines from old to not so old, prints showing how everything from art to advertising work was made. Of course also the cigar bands, another piece of history from Brabant. There is also a corner about the step from stone printing to the technology for making microchips by ASML. The Steendruk museum is not a large museum. No halls full of more prints, more machines and a mega gift shop, no, just what is necessary. In another part you can look at the actual process while people are working there. Look and smell. Not only because of the smell of printing ink, but also the smell of turpentine oil which is used in the process to remove grease. The Dutch Stone Print Museum can easily be combined with a terrace on the Valkenswaard market. You are a Brabander/in Brabant or not. The Falconry and Cigar Making Museum is also located in the same building.