The Story of Eise Eisinga

At the end of the 18th century, amateur astronomer Eise Eisinga built the largest planetarium the world had ever seen. He placed it on the ceiling of the living room of his house in Franeker, in the northern part of the Netherlands. The project took him seven years of designing, building and constructing. By the time it was nearly finished, the news about the planetarium was widespread. He welcomed visitors from all over the world to explain about our solar system. The planetarium made Eisinga a celebrity. But what do we really know about Eise Eisinga? Why did he build a planetarium in his home? And what makes this planetarium so unique? In a live planetarium show, historian Arjen Dijkstra will paint a lively picture of the creator of the Franeker Planetarium. 

Today Eisinga’s planetarium is still one of the best visited sites of cultural heritage in the region. It is recognised as one of the 50 items on the national ‘Canon of the Netherlands’. The current custodians are preparing a bid to have it included on the UNESCO World Heritage List.  

Arjen Dijkstra is historian and Director of the University Museum in Groningen. Over the past eight years, he worked on a new biography of Eisinga De Hemelbouwer (2021, Noordboek). 

In cooperation with DOTliveplanetarium.

After the show, Van der Velde Boeken will sell the new biography of Eisinga De Hemelbouwer and Arjen Dijkstra will be there to sign them.

Photo: Koninklijk Eise Eisinga Planetarium

Dit is een verplaatst programma van 14 december 2021.