Groningen: Storyworld Museum at Forum Groningen

Storyworld turns comics, animation, and games into something you can examine, play with, and try to make yourself. You’ll see original work linked to Batman, The Lion King, Tintin, and Horizon Forbidden West, then test the ideas behind those creations.

I like the mix of important pop culture and hands-on tasks, especially the chance to make a cartoon, stop-motion video, or game. I also like its setting on the sixth floor of Forum Groningen, where a museum visit can be paired with the library, cinema, exhibition rooms, and rooftop city view.

The main limitation is scope: Storyworld is a compact, one-day museum visit, not a full-day theme park. Its appeal depends heavily on your interest in comics, animation, or games, and the current temporary exhibition can change.

Key points at a glance

• Original production work: See material connected with The Lion King, Batman, Tintin, Asterix, Shaun the Sheep, and Horizon Forbidden West.
• Hands-on learning: Interactive installations explain how stories, cartoons, animations, and games are built.
• Make something yourself: Create a cartoon, stop-motion video, or game during your visit.
• Central Groningen setting: Storyworld occupies the sixth floor of Forum Groningen, a major cultural building in the city.
• Useful for families: The museum is designed to be kid-friendly, while adults with an interest in visual storytelling have plenty to examine.
• Simple admission: Entry costs $12 per person, is valid for one day, and information is available in Dutch and English.

Why Storyworld is more than a display of famous characters

Many museums about popular culture simply place familiar characters behind glass. Storyworld takes a different route. It uses famous productions as examples, then asks you to look at how a comic, animated film, or game actually works.

That distinction matters. You are not only seeing the finished face of Batman or a scene associated with The Lion King. You are also learning about the choices behind visual storytelling. The museum explains how a creator communicates action, emotion, movement, and story through images and interactive design.

This makes the visit useful for two kinds of people. If you already love comics, animation, or games, you get a closer look at the creative process. If you know little about those subjects, the interactive approach gives you an easy way in.

The museum is described as kid-friendly, but that should not make adults think it is only for young children. The selection includes international names such as Asterix, Shaun the Sheep, and Horizon Forbidden West. Those references cover several generations and several forms of storytelling, from printed comics to large-scale animated films and modern video games.

Reaching the sixth floor of Forum Groningen

Storyworld is on the sixth floor of Forum Groningen. The building itself is part of the experience, since your ticket also gives you the chance to enjoy this major cultural center in Groningen.

Forum Groningen contains more than the museum. You can also find a library, a cinema, two exhibition rooms, and a roof terrace with a view across the city. That makes Storyworld easy to combine with other indoor plans, especially on a rainy day or when you want a break from walking around Groningen.

I would allow time before or after the museum to look around the building. The museum ticket is specifically for Storyworld, but the surrounding Forum facilities give your visit more weight than a quick trip into a single gallery.

The sixth-floor location also helps you plan your day. You are not visiting an isolated attraction outside town and then searching for another activity. You can make Storyworld one part of a larger stop in central Groningen, with the rooftop view as a natural final pause.

The supplied information does not give a precise visit length. Since admission is valid for one day, you can plan around your own pace rather than follow a fixed tour schedule. That flexibility is useful for families, since younger children may move quickly through some displays while older children or adults spend longer at the creative stations.

Meeting Batman, Tintin, and The Lion King through original work

One of Storyworld’s strongest features is its use of original material from international productions. The named examples include Batman, The Lion King, Tintin, Asterix, Shaun the Sheep, and Horizon Forbidden West.

This range is important. It prevents the museum from feeling tied to only one style or one age group. Tintin and Asterix connect the visit to classic European comics. Batman brings superhero culture into the mix. Shaun the Sheep represents stop-motion animation, while The Lion King shows the scale and visual planning involved in a major animated production. Horizon Forbidden West brings video games into the same conversation.

The focus is not simply on collecting well-known names. Storyworld uses them to show how different media tell stories. A comic controls time through panels and page layout. Animation creates the sense of movement one frame at a time. A game adds interaction, giving the player a role in how the story unfolds.

Seeing original work can also change how you look at familiar characters. A finished film or game often feels effortless because the final product hides the hundreds of decisions behind it. Original drawings and production material give you a better sense of the work involved.

The exact display changes, so you should check the current exhibition at the official Storyworld website before booking. The permanent subject remains comics, animation, and games, but the specific focus and examples may vary.

Learning how a comic, cartoon, or game is built

Storyworld’s educational side is practical rather than classroom-like. The exhibits help you understand what it takes to create a cartoon or a game, using interactive installations instead of long blocks of text alone.

That approach is especially helpful if you are visiting with children. A child may not want a technical explanation of visual sequencing, but they can understand the idea by playing with an installation and seeing what changes. You get a clearer sense of how a small action can affect timing, movement, or story.

The same method works for adults. You may already understand the basics of comics or animation, but the museum encourages you to pay attention to structure. How does a creator guide your eye? How does a sequence suggest movement? How does a game give you choices while still keeping a story together?

Information is offered in Dutch and English. That removes a major barrier for international visitors and makes it easier for families or mixed-language groups to follow the displays together.

Do not expect a formal guided tour with a named guide. The activity lists English and Dutch host or greeter support, but the visit is built around the museum displays and installations. You can explore independently and spend more time on the subjects that interest you most.

Making your own cartoon, stop-motion video, or game

The most memorable part for many visitors will likely be the chance to create something. Storyworld invites you to make your own cartoon, stop-motion video, or game through its interactive equipment.

This changes the tone of the visit. Instead of only asking you to admire professional work, the museum lets you test the same broad ideas yourself. Your finished result does not need to be polished. The value is in seeing how much planning goes into movement, sequence, and player interaction.

The cartoon activity should appeal to anyone who likes drawing or visual jokes. Stop-motion gives you a simple way to understand how a series of still images can suggest movement. The game activity introduces another layer, since a game needs rules and interaction as well as a visual style.

These stations are also a good reason to avoid rushing through the museum. If you are visiting with children, you may spend more time making than looking at the original material. That is not a problem, but it is worth planning for. The museum works best when you treat the activities as part of the main visit, not as a quick extra at the end.

The supplied information does not specify how many installations are available, how long each activity takes, or whether creations can be saved or taken home. You should therefore think of these as hands-on museum activities rather than a guaranteed digital souvenir.

What the $12 price gives you

At $12 per person, Storyworld is reasonably priced for a specialized museum, particularly if you plan to use the interactive installations and spend time exploring Forum Groningen afterward.

The value is strongest for families and fans of visual media. A child who would lose interest in a traditional art museum may stay engaged because Storyworld offers making and playing as well as looking. Adults who grew up with Tintin, Batman, Asterix, or The Lion King may appreciate the original production work and the chance to see how those worlds were made.

The price is less compelling if you only want a quick look at famous characters. This is not simply a character exhibition. You are paying for access to a museum about the methods behind comics, animation, and games, including hands-on learning.

Admission is valid for one day. Starting times depend on availability, so check the booking calendar before setting your Groningen schedule. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option lets you keep your plans flexible.

The published rating is 3.6 from five ratings. That is a very small sample, so I would not treat it as a firm verdict. The limited written feedback offers no practical detail beyond a brief positive reference to Storyworld. Your own interest in the subject matter will be a better guide than the score.

Who will get the most from this museum

I would recommend Storyworld most strongly to families with school-age children, comic fans, animation followers, and anyone curious about game design. It is also a useful choice when you want an indoor activity that feels more active than a standard gallery visit.

The museum suits mixed-age groups well because the appeal works on several levels. Younger children can focus on making and playing. Older children can think about how stories are assembled. Adults can spend time with the original works and compare the different creative forms.

You should also consider Storyworld if you are already planning to visit Forum Groningen. The museum fits naturally with the library, cinema, exhibition rooms, and roof terrace. That combination helps justify the trip even if your interest in comics or games is moderate.

I would be more cautious if you want a long, highly detailed museum devoted to one subject. Storyworld covers three broad areas, comics, animation, and games, so its attention is spread across them. The current exhibition also matters, and its specific contents change.

The museum is wheelchair accessible. Information and host support are available in English and Dutch, making it a practical option for international visitors who do not speak Dutch.

A practical way to plan your Groningen visit

Check the current exhibition before you reserve. The permanent focus gives you a clear idea of the museum, but the temporary display may determine whether the visit is especially appealing to you.

Give yourself enough time to use the creative stations. If you are traveling with children, explain that Storyworld is not only a place to look at original drawings and designs. The museum expects you to take part, and the activities are central to its appeal.

Pair the visit with the rest of Forum Groningen. You can visit the library or cinema, look through the two exhibition rooms, or finish at the roof terrace for views over the city. Since the ticket is valid for one day, you have room to fit the museum into a larger day rather than treating it as your only stop.

For a focused visit, start with the original works, then move to the explanations of how comics, animation, and games function. Finish with the creation stations. That order lets you see the professional examples first, understand the basic ideas second, and try those ideas yourself last.

Should you book Storyworld?

Book Storyworld if you want a playful, indoor Groningen activity that connects familiar characters with the creative work behind them. The original material from Batman, The Lion King, Tintin, Shaun the Sheep, Asterix, and Horizon Forbidden West gives the museum broad appeal, while the cartoon, stop-motion, and game stations add real participation.

I would especially choose it for a family day or for anyone already interested in comics, animation, or games. At $12 per person, it offers fair value when you plan to spend time with the interactive displays and use Forum Groningen as part of the outing.

Skip it if you only want a large collection of finished artworks or a full-day attraction with a fixed program. For the right audience, though, Storyworld provides a clear look at how visual stories are made, and it does so without asking you to sit quietly and read every label.

FAQ

Where is Storyworld located?

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

What subjects does Storyworld cover?

The museum focuses on comics, animation, and games.

How much does admission cost?

Admission costs $12 per person.

How long is the ticket valid?

The ticket is valid for one day.

Are starting times fixed?

Starting times depend on availability, so you should check available times when booking.

Can I see original work from famous productions?

Yes. The museum includes original work connected with productions such as The Lion King, Batman, Tintin, Asterix, Shaun the Sheep, and Horizon Forbidden West.

Can I create anything at Storyworld?

Yes. Interactive activities let you create a cartoon, a stop-motion video, or a game.

Is information available in English?

Yes. Information is offered in English and Dutch, and host or greeter support is available in both languages.

Is Storyworld wheelchair accessible?

Yes. Storyworld is wheelchair accessible.