Dinosaurs are a source of fascination for all of us, from the very young to the very old, for every level of education and within every culture. They have mythical manifestations, in a wide variety, that strongly stimulate the imagination. Some resemble animals of today, but others do not. They lived well before the emergence of humans, or even the precursors of humans, and we still know so little about them. However, thanks to intensive research, we are discovering more and more, which in turn creates new stories. Naturalis is one of the very few institutes in the world that has everything under a single roof: a natural history museum, the national collection with a biodiversity data centre, and biodiversity research. We are making full use of this special position for the theme of dinosaurs.
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Based on dinosaur books, the toy shop and adventure films, you might get the idea that we already know everything there is to know about this dinosaur species. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Until recently, only two reasonably complete skeletons of this giant prehistoric reptile had been discovered. Currently, the investigation into this completely unique find is still in full swing. Our research group is led by Professor Anne Schulp and has state-of-the-art research techniques at its disposal. Jimmy de Rooij is the lead researcher who was able to dedicate his four-year PhD research to the skeletons. Research is taking place in collaboration with many renowned research institutes elsewhere in the Netherlands and beyond, including Utrecht University, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, TU Delft, the University of Bonn, Goethe University Frankfurt, several museums in the United States and Canada, and Canon Europe.
Get to knowour experts
In a series of interviews for Triceratops TV, Naturalis experts share their knowledge on and insights into Triceratops. In these fascinating interviews, they reveal the latest discoveries and research findings, offering a unique glimpse into the lives of these fascinating prehistoric giants.
Dinolabin LiveScience
Watch our experts at work
In our Dinolab, Triceratops bones have been carefully cleaned for presentation. Right now we're working on another discovery from the Jurassic era. Stop by the Dinolab, which offers free access, and ask our experts all your questions!
Triceratopson tour
In the summer of 2024, you could've admired our five Triceratops separately in five cities across the Netherlands.
A member of the herd came to you!
The natural history museums and public libraries of Maastricht, Tilburg, Delft, Haarlem and Leeuwarden were hosting one of these prehistoric guests. In collaboration with these partners, we ensured that young and old, from north to south, came face to face with a Triceratops.
