Groningen: Storyworld Museum at Forum Groningen

Storyworld turns comics, animation, and games into something you can test, touch, and play with. You’ll see original material connected with The Lion King, Batman, Tintin, Asterix, Shaun the Sheep, and Horizon Forbidden West, then try creative stations that show how these forms are made.

I like the mix of recognizable international titles and hands-on activities, especially the chance to create your own cartoon, stop-motion video, or game. I also like the setting: Forum Groningen’s sixth floor, where your museum ticket includes access to one of the city’s most striking public buildings. The main drawback is that the visit may feel brief if you prefer a traditional museum filled with long text panels and many objects.

Key points

• Original production material: See work linked to major comics, animated films, and games from the Netherlands and abroad.
• Three creative activities: Make a cartoon, build a stop-motion video, or try creating a game.
• Interactive learning: The exhibits explain how cartoons and games communicate ideas and how creators build them.
• Changing exhibitions: The special exhibition changes, so check Storyworld’s website before you go.
• Sixth-floor location: Your visit also brings you into Forum Groningen, with a roof terrace and broad city views nearby.
• Simple pricing: Entry costs $12 per person and is valid for one day.

Why Storyworld Works Best as a Hands-On Museum

Storyworld is not built around quietly looking at framed art. Its subject is the process behind comics, animation, and games, so the museum asks you to take part.

That makes the visit a good fit if you enjoy seeing how an idea becomes a finished character, scene, film, or playable world. You are not simply shown a comic panel or a game image. The interactive installations help you understand how images, movement, timing, and choices shape the final result.

This approach also gives the museum a broad appeal. A child can play with the controls, while an adult may pay closer attention to the creative decisions behind the activity. You do not need specialist knowledge of animation or game design to get something from it.

The tradeoff is clear. If you want a quiet art museum with a large collection of historical objects, Storyworld may not be your best choice. It is more active, more playful, and more focused on explaining creative work through participation.

Entering Forum Groningen on the Sixth Floor

Storyworld occupies the sixth floor of Forum Groningen, a large cultural building in the center of the city. The museum ticket also gives you a reason to see the building itself, rather than treating it as a place you enter only for the exhibits.

Forum Groningen contains a library, a cinema, two exhibition rooms, Storyworld, and a roof terrace. That mix makes it useful on a rainy day or when you want to combine several indoor stops without crossing the city.

The sixth-floor setting matters because it gives your visit a sense of place. After the museum, you can look out across Groningen from the roof terrace and get your bearings. The view is part of the appeal of visiting Forum, although the ticket is specifically for Storyworld rather than every possible activity in the building.

You should allow time to find Storyworld inside Forum Groningen and then decide how long to spend with the exhibits. The ticket is valid for one day, so you are not tied to a narrow timed tour format. The activity information says to check availability for starting times, so confirm the current arrangement when booking.

Seeing Tintin, Batman, and The Lion King

The museum presents original work from international productions and creators. The named examples include Tintin, Asterix, The Lion King, Shaun the Sheep, Batman, and Horizon Forbidden West.

That selection is useful because it covers several different kinds of storytelling. Tintin and Asterix point toward comics and drawn characters. The Lion King and Shaun the Sheep show different approaches to animation. Batman connects to the long tradition of comic-book heroes, while Horizon Forbidden West brings the world of games into the same conversation.

The value is not only recognition. Familiar names give you an easy way into the subject. You may already know a character or film, but Storyworld encourages you to think about how that character was drawn, moved, framed, or placed inside a story.

The exact objects and works on display can change. Storyworld has a current exhibition program, so check the museum website before your visit if you are hoping to see a particular production. The permanent idea of the museum remains comics, animation, and games, but the exhibition details are not fixed.

Learning How Comics Communicate

Comics can look simple because the finished page is still. In practice, a comic depends on choices about sequence, panel size, expressions, movement, dialogue, and the gap between one image and the next.

Storyworld uses interactive exhibits to help you understand those choices. You can expect the museum to focus on how a cartoon or comic guides your eye and helps you follow an idea. The format is especially useful for younger visitors, who may understand the lesson faster by changing something themselves than by reading a long explanation.

For adults, the pleasure comes from noticing the craft behind familiar forms. A single facial expression, panel, or pose can carry information that would take many words to explain. The museum makes that process easier to see.

Information is offered in Dutch and English. That is important if you want to read explanations rather than rely only on the interactive elements. The host or greeter can also speak Dutch or English.

Watching Animation Take Shape

Animation adds time and movement to drawn or constructed images. Storyworld gives you a chance to consider how that movement is made, rather than treating an animated film as a finished product that simply plays on a screen.

The museum specifically invites you to create a stop-motion video. This is one of the clearest ways to understand animation, because you can see how small changes between images produce the sense of movement.

You may find this part especially good for families and visitors who learn by doing. It gives children a creative task, while adults can see why animation takes planning and patience. The activity also makes a useful contrast with comics. Comics arrange movement across a page, while stop-motion creates the feeling of movement across time.

Do not expect a full filmmaking workshop with a named instructor or a long guided lesson. No guide names or individual workshop schedule are provided. Instead, the creative stations are part of the self-guided museum visit.

Trying to Build Your Own Game

Games add another layer because the audience does not only watch or read. The player makes choices, follows rules, and responds to what happens next.

Storyworld includes interactive material about how games work and lets you try creating a game yourself. This gives you a practical way to think about design. A game needs more than attractive images. It also needs actions, rules, goals, and some kind of response to the player.

The reference to Horizon Forbidden West gives the game section a familiar modern example, but the museum’s purpose is broader than one title. You are looking at the creative principles behind games, not simply viewing game advertising.

This activity is likely to suit children who already enjoy games, but it can also help adults understand why games require a different kind of storytelling. If you prefer passive viewing, this section may feel less satisfying than the original works. If you like experimenting, it is one of the strongest reasons to visit.

A Changing Exhibition Means You Should Check First

Storyworld’s current exhibition is not specified as a permanent feature. The museum directs you to its website to see what is on display now.

That is a practical point, not a small one. If your main interest is a specific artist, franchise, comic, or animation style, check the current information before paying for admission. The museum’s general themes remain consistent, but the temporary material can change the balance of your visit.

A changing exhibition program also gives you a reason to return to Forum Groningen on a later trip. The museum is not limited to one fixed display of famous characters. Its subjects can be approached through different productions and creative questions.

How Much Time Should You Set Aside?

The ticket is valid for one day, and the activity does not give a fixed visit length. That flexibility works well if you are building a day around Forum Groningen rather than planning a separate full-day museum outing.

You can treat Storyworld as a focused stop, then continue to another part of Forum or head out to see Groningen. You might also spend longer if the interactive stations hold your attention, especially when visiting with children.

The lack of a stated duration means you should not assume a large, all-day museum. Storyworld is best seen as a compact cultural visit with active exhibits. Its value comes from the quality and usefulness of the interaction, not from filling many hours with galleries.

Because starting arrangements can vary, check availability when booking. The ticket is offered with free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance, and you can reserve now and pay later, which helps if your city plans are still changing.

Is $12 a Fair Price?

At $12 per person, Storyworld sits at a reasonable price for an interactive museum visit, especially if you are interested in at least two of its three subjects: comics, animation, or games.

The price includes museum admission and access to the Forum Groningen building. You are paying for more than a display of original works. The interactive installations are central to the experience, and the chance to make a cartoon, stop-motion video, or game gives the visit a practical element.

The value is strongest for families, creative people, and fans of the named productions. A parent can visit with a child and find activities for both. A visitor who has little interest in these media may find the price less attractive, since the museum does not try to cover every kind of art or popular culture.

You should also factor in the roof terrace and the building’s other public spaces. They are not presented as separate museum exhibits, but they add to the reason for visiting Forum Groningen.

Who Will Enjoy Storyworld Most?

I would recommend Storyworld most strongly to:

• Families looking for an indoor activity with things to do, not only things to read.
• Comic fans who want to see original work tied to famous characters and creators.
• Animation fans interested in how movement is built.
• Game players curious about design, rules, and interactive storytelling.
• Visitors who want to combine a museum stop with Forum Groningen’s library, cinema, exhibition rooms, and roof terrace.

I would be more cautious if you want a large historical collection, a formal guided tour, or a long academic explanation of comics and games. Storyworld is designed for participation. The tone is accessible and playful rather than scholarly.

The museum is wheelchair accessible, and information is available in Dutch and English. That makes it easier to plan for a mixed-language group or a visit where not everyone reads Dutch.

The Practical Call: Should You Book?

Book Storyworld if you like comics, animation, games, or creative activities and want a short, active museum visit in Groningen. The original works give the museum recognizable anchors, while the cartoon, stop-motion, and game stations give you something to do with the ideas.

Before booking, check the current exhibition at Storyworld.nl. That is the best way to confirm that the temporary material matches your interests.

Skip it if you are looking for a traditional museum with a large collection or a fixed guided itinerary. At $12, Storyworld offers fair value for the right audience, particularly when you combine it with the rest of Forum Groningen and its city views.

FAQ

Where is Storyworld located?

Storyworld is on the sixth floor of Forum Groningen in Groningen, Netherlands.

How much does admission cost?

Admission costs $12 per person.

How long is the ticket valid?

The ticket is valid for one day. Check availability for current starting times.

What can I see at Storyworld?

You can see original work connected with international productions and creators, including Tintin, Asterix, The Lion King, Shaun the Sheep, Batman, and Horizon Forbidden West.

Can I create something at the museum?

Yes. The interactive exhibits let you create your own cartoon, stop-motion video, or game.

What languages are available?

Information is offered in Dutch and English. The host or greeter speaks Dutch and English.

Is Storyworld wheelchair accessible?

Yes, Storyworld is wheelchair accessible.