The Corpus Museum in Oegstgeest near Leiden in the Netherlands was opened in 2008 by Queen Beatrix. It is dedicated entirely to the human body and offers visitors a unique “journey through the human body” – quite literally.
Housed in a building that incorporates a 35-metre-tall seated human figure, the museum blends education, entertainment and interactivity to deliver a memorable experience designed to deepen public understanding of human biology and health.
The idea for the Corpus Museum was conceived by Dutch entrepreneur Henri Remmers. Driven by a desire to improve public awareness of health and the inner workings of the human body, Remmers envisioned a place where people of all ages could explore anatomy in a dynamic and engaging way. His concept gained momentum in the early 2000s, and with the help of medical experts, architects and experience designers, the museum was brought to life over five years of planning and construction.
Visitors to Corpus begin their journey by literally entering the giant seated figure through the knee [Ed: Odd, but I guess they needed to choose something]. From there, they are guided on a 55-minute multimedia tour, traveling upwards through organs such as the intestines, heart, lungs and brain. Along the way, high-tech displays, films, animatronics and soundscapes provide insights into how each system functions and how lifestyle choices affect our health. It’s a vivid, immersive approach that demystifies complex bodily processes — from how we digest food to how neurons transmit thoughts.
What sets Corpus apart from traditional science museums is its theatrical presentation and emotional impact. The goal is not just to inform, but to inspire awe, curiosity and a sense of personal responsibility toward one's health. After completing the guided journey, visitors enter the “interactive zone” where a more traditional museum setup offers hands-on exhibits, quizzes, and information about nutrition, exercise and medical research.
Since its opening, Corpus has welcomed millions of visitors, including students, families and health professionals. The museum collaborates with universities, government agencies, and non-profits to promote public health awareness, making it a rare example of edutainment with real societal impact.
The 1966 film Fantastic Voyage is a science fiction classic that shares a surprising conceptual kinship with the Corpus Museum. Directed by Richard Fleischer and starring Raquel Welch and Stephen Boyd, the film follows a team of scientists who are miniaturised, along with their submarine, and injected into a human body to perform a delicate brain surgery from the inside. [Ed: As you do.] The journey takes them through the heart, lungs, inner ear and brain, encountering white blood cells, antibodies and other biological obstacles along the way.
Fantastic Voyage was groundbreaking for its time, featuring elaborate sets and visual effects. While the science was fictional, the film sparked public interest in biology and medicine, and it influenced generations of students, scientists and storytellers.
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References
corpusexperience.nl
wikipedia.org/wiki/Corpus_(museum)
tripadvisor.com.au
Images
1. Corpus Museum. Credit: Corpus Museum
2. Corpus Museum exterior with big guy
3. Location of Corpus Museum. Credit: Google Maps
4 to 9. Corpus Museum. Credit: Corpus Museum
10. Poster for Fantastic Voyage, 1966
11. Scene from Fantastic Voyage, 1966 [Ed: Watch out for those platelets!]
