Groningen: Storyworld Museum at Forum Groningen

Storyworld turns the craft behind comics, animation, and games into something you can play with. On the sixth floor of Forum Groningen, you can see original work connected with Batman, The Lion King, Tintin, Asterix, Shaun the Sheep, and Horizon Forbidden West, then try making your own cartoon, stop-motion video, or game.

I like the mix of recognizable productions and hands-on activities. I also like that the $12 admission includes the rest of the striking Forum Groningen building, including its library, cinema, exhibition rooms, and city-view roof terrace. The main consideration is its small public rating of 3.6 from five ratings, so you should choose it for the subject and interactive format rather than expecting a large traditional art museum.

Key points at a glance

• Original production artwork: See material connected with Batman, The Lion King, Tintin, Asterix, Shaun the Sheep, and Horizon Forbidden West.
• Hands-on learning: Interactive installations show how a cartoon, animated film, or game is built.
• Make something yourself: Create a cartoon, stop-motion video, or game during your visit.
• Easy city-center pairing: Storyworld occupies the sixth floor of Forum Groningen, alongside a library, cinema, exhibition rooms, and roof terrace.
• Good for families: The museum is designed as a kid-friendly experience, but the subjects also suit adults who grew up with comics, films, and games.
• Flexible booking: Your ticket is valid for one day, and you can cancel up to 24 hours before the visit for a full refund.

Why Storyworld feels different from a standard museum

Many museums ask you to look closely, read labels, and move on. Storyworld asks you to figure out how stories are made. That change matters. Instead of treating comics, animation, and games as separate hobbies, it places them in the same creative family: drawing, movement, character, sound, rules, and narrative.

You can expect a mix of original works and interactive displays. The original material gives the museum a firm connection to professional production. The interactive side helps you understand the decisions behind a finished image or scene.

That combination should work well for you if you like seeing the rough work behind a polished result. A familiar name such as Batman or The Lion King can draw you in, while the hands-on displays explain why a character looks, moves, or behaves in a certain way.

The museum is described as especially suitable for children, but kidsproof does not mean adults have nothing to do. Comics fans, animation followers, and gamers can look at the creative process from another angle. You may find the best visit is one where adults and children take turns trying the installations rather than simply walking around together.

Reaching Storyworld on Forum Groningen’s sixth floor

Storyworld is located inside Forum Groningen, on the sixth floor. That makes the building part of the visit. Your $12 ticket covers museum admission, while the same stop gives you access to a large public complex with a library, cinema, two exhibition rooms, and a roof terrace.

The Forum is useful on a day when you want more than one indoor activity. You can visit Storyworld, browse the library, check an exhibition, or head to the roof terrace for a view across Groningen. The supplied information does not say that every extra facility is included in the museum ticket, so treat the ticket as admission to Storyworld and enjoy the wider building as an added reason to come.

The location also gives you a simple way to plan your time. Storyworld is not presented as a timed walking tour or a guided outing through several parts of the province. It is a museum visit with a one-day ticket, so you can fit it around other plans in Groningen.

Check the available starting times before booking. The ticket is valid for one day, but the published details do not give a fixed visit length. You should allow enough time to try the interactive installations rather than rushing through the displays.

Original works from Batman to Horizon Forbidden West

The named examples give you a good idea of Storyworld’s range. Batman represents comic-book storytelling and character design. The Lion King brings animated film into the picture. Tintin and Asterix connect the museum with European comics, while Shaun the Sheep shows how stop-motion characters can be built and moved.

Horizon Forbidden West brings video games into the same room. That matters because games require more than a single drawing or sequence of frames. They combine characters, environments, animation, rules, and player choices.

You are not only looking at finished entertainment. The museum uses original work from international productions to show the labor behind those finished worlds. The exact objects and displays can change with the current exhibition, so check Storyworld’s website before you go. A temporary exhibition may give your visit a different focus from the examples listed here.

This changing program is a strength for repeat visits, but it also means you should not assume that every named production will receive equal attention every time. If you are visiting mainly for one particular character or game, check the current exhibition first.

Learning through interactive installations

The interactive displays are the heart of the experience. You can learn what it takes to understand a cartoon or a game, then test some of those ideas yourself. The format is practical rather than purely academic.

For comics, you might find displays that help you think about panels, character action, or the way drawings guide a reader through a page. For animation, the focus may be on creating movement from still images. For games, the museum can help you see how rules and player interaction shape a story.

I use the word might here because the supplied details do not list every individual installation. Storyworld’s exact activities can change with its exhibitions and displays. What is clear is that you are expected to play, experiment, and learn by doing.

That approach is valuable for children who lose interest in long wall texts. It also helps adults who know the finished films or games but have never considered how a production team turns an idea into a working scene.

The hands-on format may be less satisfying if you prefer quiet galleries and close study of art. Storyworld is designed to be active. Expect an environment where trying things is part of the museum visit, not a side attraction.

Making a cartoon, stop-motion video, or game

Storyworld gives you three especially clear creative options: make a cartoon, produce a stop-motion video, or create a game. Each one points to a different kind of storytelling.

A cartoon lets you work with drawn characters and visual expression. Stop-motion introduces the pleasure of building movement step by step. Game creation shifts your attention to choices, rules, and the way a player interacts with a world.

You do not need to arrive as an artist or programmer. The whole point is to show how these formats work by letting you try them. The available information does not promise that you can save or take home a finished project, so think of these activities as part of the museum visit rather than a production workshop with a take-home result.

For families, this can make the admission feel more worthwhile. A child can look at a famous character, then make a simple piece of work using related ideas. Adults can join in without needing specialist skills.

If you are visiting with several children, plan for different levels of interest. One child may want to spend time drawing, while another prefers the game-related installation. The freedom to move among activities should help, but the museum may feel less rewarding for anyone who wants a strictly guided sequence.

The current exhibition can change your visit

Storyworld asks you to check its website for the exhibition currently on display. This is one of the most important planning tips because temporary exhibitions shape what you will see.

The permanent idea remains the same: comics, animation, and games explained through original material and interactive displays. The examples, themes, and featured creators may vary. Before you reserve, check whether the current subject matches your interests.

This is especially useful for a short Groningen visit. At $12 per person, the ticket is a reasonable way to add an indoor cultural stop, but you should know what the museum is featuring on your chosen day.

The changing exhibition program also keeps the museum from feeling like a one-time stop for local families. If you return to Groningen, Storyworld may offer a different focus. Just do not treat the names Batman, The Lion King, Tintin, Asterix, Shaun the Sheep, and Horizon Forbidden West as a promise that every one will appear in the same depth during every visit.

What the $12 admission includes

At $12 per person, Storyworld is priced as a modest museum outing rather than a full-day guided attraction. The ticket includes entrance to the museum and information in Dutch and English.

The value improves if you use the visit as part of a larger Forum Groningen stop. The roof terrace, with its view over the city, gives you a clear extra reason to visit the building. You can also combine the museum with the library, cinema, or other exhibition rooms, though the available details do not specify which facilities require separate payment.

The price is strongest for you if you will try the creative stations. A quick walk through a small display may feel less satisfying at $12, while a visit that includes original works, interactive learning, and your own cartoon, stop-motion video, or game offers more to do.

The public score of 3.6 from five ratings is neither a strong warning nor a firm endorsement. With such a small number of ratings, I would place more weight on your interest in the subject. If you love comics, animation, or games, the format is a good match. If you are looking for a large collection of conventional paintings or sculptures, choose another museum.

Languages, access, and booking flexibility

Information is offered in Dutch and English, and the host or greeter can speak both languages. That makes the visit practical for international visitors who want to understand the displays without relying on Dutch.

Storyworld is wheelchair accessible. The supplied information does not describe every route or facility in detail, so contact Forum Groningen directly if you need specific access arrangements beyond general wheelchair access.

You can reserve now and pay later, which is useful when your Groningen schedule is still shifting. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The ticket is valid for one day, with starting times shown when you check availability.

These policies are helpful, but they do not change the basic nature of the experience. This is a flexible museum visit, not a long excursion with transport or a named private guide. You go to Forum Groningen on your own schedule within the available booking window.

Who will enjoy Storyworld most

I would recommend Storyworld first to families, comic fans, animation followers, and gamers. It has enough recognizable material to catch a child’s attention, while the creative stations give that interest somewhere to go.

It also suits adults who want a light cultural stop in Groningen. You can see how popular stories are constructed without committing to a full day in a traditional museum.

The experience may not suit you if you want a large collection, a long historical survey, or detailed specialist commentary on individual artists. The supplied information focuses on interactive learning and creative play, so the visit is likely to feel more like an active discovery space than a quiet archive.

The museum is also a smart rainy-day option because it sits inside Forum Groningen. The roof terrace adds a city view when conditions are good, while the library, cinema, and exhibition rooms give you alternatives if your group does not agree on the same activity.

Should you book Storyworld?

Book Storyworld if you want a reasonably priced, family-friendly museum where you can see original production work and try the tools of comics, animation, and games yourself. The $12 price makes sense when you spend time with the interactive installations and add the Forum’s other facilities to your plan.

Before booking, check the current exhibition and available starting time. If one named production is your main reason for going, confirm that it is part of the display on your date.

I would skip it if your ideal museum visit means silent rooms, a large permanent collection, or detailed art scholarship. For everyone else, Storyworld offers a playful look at how familiar stories are drawn, animated, and programmed, with the added bonus of one of Groningen’s best city views from the Forum roof terrace.

FAQ

Where is Storyworld located?

Storyworld is on the sixth floor of Forum Groningen in the city of 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. You should check availability for the starting times offered on your chosen date.

Which languages are available?

Information is available in Dutch and English, and the host or greeter speaks Dutch and English.

Is Storyworld wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the experience is wheelchair accessible.

Can I cancel my booking?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later to keep your plans flexible.