Looking through a large telescope yourself, attending a lecture, or simply asking questions to experienced stargazers: at a public observatory, it's all possible. On this page, you will find public observatories by country, sorted by region, with addresses and websites. We start with the Netherlands and Belgium and will expand the overview step by step.

A visit to an observatory is also the best way to prepare for buying your own telescope. There, you can look through different types of instruments and immediately see what appeals to you. If you’re still unsure which type is right for you, read our Beginner's Guide or view the overview of all telescopes. And check beforehand the lunar calendarAround the new moon, the sky is darkest and you can see the most.

Most observatories are run by volunteers and organize stargazing nights, courses, and youth activities. Always check the observatory's website for current opening hours and stargazing nights, as these vary by location and season.

Observatories in the Netherlands

Drenthe

CAMRAS (Dwingeloo): Oude Hoogeveensedijk 4, 7991 PD Dwingeloo. camras.nl

Flevoland

Almere Observatory (Almere): Markt 29, 1354 AP Almere. sterrenwachtalmere.nl

Friesland

Observeum, museum and observatory Burgum (Burgum): M. van Coehoornweg 9, 9251 LV Burgum. observeum.nl

Gelderland

Cancer Observatory (Bennekom): Knoopkruid 12, 6721 RA Bennekom. sterrenwachtkreeft.nl
Bussloo Public Observatory (Bussloo): Bussloselaan 4, 7383 RP Voorst. volkssterrenwachtbussloo.nl
Public Observatory Phoenix (Lochem): Ampsenseweg 10, 7421 NB Lochem. sterrenwachtphoenix.nl
Saturnus Public Observatory (Nijmegen): Community Centre De Schalmei, Symfoniestraat 204, 6544 TN Nijmegen. volkssterrenwachtnijmegen.nl
Astronomical Circle Nijmegen (Nijmegen): Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen. akn.science.ru.nl
Corona Borealis Public Observatory (Zevenaar): Breulylaan 3, 6905 DZ Zevenaar. coronaborealis.nl

Limburg

Limburg Observatory (Heerlen): Schaapskooiweg 95, 6414 EL Heerlen. observatory.nl

North Brabant

Jan Paagman Observatory (Asten): Ostaderstraat 28, 5721 WC Asten. sterrenwachtasten.nl
Eindhoven Observatory (Eindhoven): Alberdingk Thijmlaan 3, 5615 EB Eindhoven. sterrenwachteindhoven.nl
Strabrecht Public Observatory Geldrop: Grote Bos 2, 5666 AZ Geldrop. observatory.strabrecht.nl
Tivoli Observatory (Oudenbosch): Jezuïetenplein 33, 4731 HX Oudenbosch. sterrenwachttivoli.nl
Astronomical Association Wega (Tilburg): Spoorlaan 434, 5038 CH Tilburg. wegaastro.nl
Orion Observatory Uden (Uden): Bertrandhof 62, 5404 MD Uden. orion-uden-observatory.jouwweb.nl
Halley Observatory (Vinkel): Halleyweg 1, 5383 KT Vinkel. sterrenwachthalley.nl

North Holland

Public Observatory Amsterdam (Amsterdam): 35 Breekstraat, 1024 LJ Amsterdam. volkssterrenwachtamsterdam.nl
Orion Public Observatory (Bovenkarspel): Streekbos pavilion, Veilingweg 21, 1611 BN Bovenkarspel. volkssterrenwachtorion.nl
De Jager Public Observatory (De Koog, Texel): above the Ecomare Field Center, Ruijslaan 92, 1796 AZ De Koog. oriontexel.nl
Cees Buining Observatory (Den Helder): Noorderhaven, Perenhout 12, 1787 RE Den Helder. sterrenwachtdenhelder.nl
Saturnus Observatory (Heerhugowaard): Van Veenweg 98, 1701 HH Heerhugowaard. sterrenwachtsaturnus.nl
Gooi and Vecht Region Observatory (‘s-Graveland): Noordereinde 54e, 1243 JJ ‘s-Graveland. observatory-gv.nl
Vesta Observatory (Oostzaan): Zuideinde 195 to 197, 1511 GD Oostzaan. sterrenwachtvesta.nl
Copernicus Observatory (Overveen): Tetterodeweg 27, 2051 EG Overveen. sterrenwachtcopernicus.nl

Overijssel

Coenraad ter Kuile Observatory (Enschede): Het Rozendaal 11, 7523 XG Enschede. demuseumfabriek.nl
Hellendoorn Observatory (Hellendoorn): Grotestraat 281, 7441 GS Nijverdal. sterrenwachthellendoorn.nl
Cosmos Observatory (Lattrop): Frensdorferweg 22, 7635 NK Lattrop. sterrenwachtcosmos.nl
Zwolle Observatory, Thales Association (Zwolle): De Nooterhof, Goertjesweg 3, 8013 PA Zwolle. vws-thales.nl

Utrecht

Central Netherlands Observatory (Amersfoort): Schothorsterlaan 27, 3822 NA Amersfoort. observatory-mn.nl
Sonnenborgh, museum and observatory (Utrecht): Zonnenburg 2, 3512 NL Utrecht. sonnenborgh.nl

Zeeland

Philippus Lansbergen Public Observatory (Middelburg): Helm 3, 4331 CD Middelburg. lansbergen.net

South Holland

Mercurius Observatory (Dordrecht): Baanhoekweg 75, 3313 LP Dordrecht. observatory-mercury.nl
Old Observatory Leiden (Leiden): Sterrewachtlaan 11, 2311 GP Leiden. universiteitleiden.nl/oudesterrewacht and werkgroepleidsesterrewacht.nl
Rijswijk Observatory (Rijswijk): P. Voûtestraat 389a, 2286 VB Rijswijk. sterrenwachtrijswijk.nl
Gemini Observatory (Spijkenisse): Libelleveen, Park Waterland, 3205 SG Spijkenisse. sterrenwachtspijkenisse.nl

Observatories in Belgium

Flanders has six recognized public observatories, each with its own visitor center and public outreach. In Wallonia, you will find the region's only public observatory beneath one of Belgium's darkest skies, and in Brussels stands the national planetarium.

Flanders

Urania Public Observatory (Hove, Antwerp): Jozef Mattheessensstraat 60, 2540 Hove. urania.be
Mira Public Observatory (Grimbergen, Flemish Brabant): Abdijstraat 22, 1850 Grimbergen. mira.be
Cozmix, Beisbroek Public Observatory (Bruges, West Flanders): Zeeweg 96, 8200 Bruges. cozmix.be
AstroLAB IRIS (Zillebeke near Ypres, West Flanders): Verbrandemolenstraat 5, 8902 Zillebeke. astrolab.be
UGent Armand Pien Public Observatory (Ghent, East Flanders): Gezusters Lovelingstraat n/a, 9000 Ghent. armandpien.be
Cosmodrome (Genk, Limburg): Planetariumweg 19, 3600 Genk. cosmodrome.be

Brussels and Wallonia

Planetarium of the Royal Observatory of Belgium (Brussels): Boechoutlaan 10, 1020 Brussels. planetarium.be
Central Ardenne Observatory (Grapfontaine near Neufchâteau, Province of Luxembourg): Chemin de la Source 100, 6840 Grapfontaine. observatoirecentreardenne.be

Explore the starry sky yourself

Did an open night get you hooked? With your own telescope, you decide when you observe. Our Beginner's Guide helps you choose a first instrument, and provides an overview of all telescopes Filter by type and budget. Questions? In our showroom in Burgum you can try out the instruments yourself before deciding, and we ship throughout Europe.

Is there an observatory missing from this overview, or is the information of your society no longer correct? Send us a message and we will update it.