Clever Ton and Wasteful Sjaak
Meet Clever Ton and Wasteful Sjaak during the autumn break. They challenge children to make choices about how they use water. Wasteful Sjaak is a garden hose who would happily water the plants with tap water every day. Clever Ton doesn’t think that’s a good idea: he encourages children to put a water butt in the garden to collect rainwater. Ton and Sjaak are keen to share their opinions, but it’s up to the children to make their own choices.
Saving water
The theme of this autumn break is saving water. Children make their way around the atrium, visiting several different locations, including a gazebo, shop, house and lab. With a special savings card in hand, they complete challenges and try to save as much water as possible. Those who do particularly well become water heroes.
Experiments and challenges
In the lab, for example, children carry out experiments to discover which water is safe to drink and which contains a lot of salt. In the shop, they learn more about ‘hidden’ water: how much water does it take to get an apple into the shops, and is that more or less than for a mango? And is it better to buy a new pair of jeans or a second-hand pair? There are also plenty of ways to save water around the house, including when using the toilet and shower.
Understanding water
Through the activities, children learn about the water cycle and the difference between a paved garden and one filled with plants. They discover that products in shops, such as T-shirts, hamburgers and toys, also require water to produce. Using AI requires a lot of water too. The good news is that water can be reused. By making their own water filter, children learn exactly how this works.
About the theme
Every autumn break, the museum focuses on a social issue. This year, the theme is saving water. Through these activities, the museum aims to raise awareness among younger visitors. How much water do we use in our homes, gardens and immediate surroundings, and how can we use it more efficiently? The museum is working with Rabobank and Wetsus on this programme.
Practical information
The autumn break programme runs from 10 to 25 October 2026. Opening hours are: 10 to 18 October (autumn break in the northern region): daily from 10:00am to 5:00pm, including Monday. After that, the museum will be open during its regular opening hours. The autumn half-term activities will remain available up to and including Free Tuesday on 27 October.
