On October 18, Naturalis will open Triceratops: the herd. It will be a family friendly and interactive exhibition. The heart of the gallery is formed by the unique collection of five triceratops skeletons.
After eleven yearsthey're finally ready
In 2013, a team of Naturalis Biodiversity found something remarkable in Wyoming (USA). No less than five specimens of Triceratops horridus, the iconic dinosaur with the horns and the big neck shield. The museum in Leiden, The Netherlands, now owns the biggest collection of triceratops individuals on the planet, and the only one proven to have lived and died together. Eleven years of of digging, bone prepping, scientific research and gallery design are all coming together. On Friday October 18, Naturalis will open the exhibit Triceratops: the herd.
The theme:triceratops
Naturalis used the five skeletons as the basis for a family friendly exhibition that uses many different techniques to bring the dinos back to life. An animatronic baby triceratops is sleeping next to its mother, and visitors can view the herd through special tricera-scopes and watch the animals stomp through the museum. Interactives allow you to learn about triceratops' diet - both the food and the farts - and how the power of teamwork by battling a Tyrannosaurus rex together. The rest of the museum is also triceratops-themed in its programs for schools, family activities, the museum shop and even the menu in the museum restaurant.
World tour
Triceratops: the herd can be seen in Naturalis until August 31, 2025. After that, the exhibition will go on a tour around the world. When that ends, the five dinosaur skeletons will get a permanent spot in our museum.
More infoNot for publication
This is a press release from Naturalis Biodiversity Center. More information, images and video can be found in this press folder. For general questions, you can contact the Naturalis communications department at +31 (0)71 - 7519 648 or communicatie@naturalis.nl.
Opening hours
Because we're expecting a lot of extra visitors, we're extending our opening hours. From the Fall until the Christmas holidays, we'll open on Saturdays until 21:30. During these holidays, the museum will be open 30 minutes longer than usual: until 17:30.