In 1952, was equal to a Youth Council decided to appoint. Every year wearing the Hague several schools members of this Council. Members (all 16 and 17 years old) sit for two years and, since the coronation of Queen Beatrix, is from their midst the new mayor elected. The Mayor and his Council should be present at every ceremony and they take new models in reception.

Founders

In 1916 is a boy born on Curaçao, George Maduro. He arrives at a young age to Netherlands to, among other things, to study. During the second world war fought this young man with the allies. On 9 February 1945 he comes in the Dachau concentration camp to typhus to death.

His parents want in memory of their son a monument. In the same time sought mevr. Boon – van der Starp, a member of the Board of assistance from the Foundation Dutch students sanatorium, funds for the financial support of the sanatorium in Laren. They wanted to support this should get out of the income of a miniature city.

Meanwhile the TB sanatorium, because no longer exists among students, closed in 1964, and the income from Madurodam now to various charities.

The park was officially opened on 2 July 1952.

Madurodam is a miniature city

* The entire park covers an area of 62.626 m²

* The miniature city itself is 17.633 m²

* If the dark is going to be, 50,000 lights for enough atmosphere

The park is built in a scale of 1: 25

* There are now more than 700 models are

* The park receives annually around the million tourists

Famous Dutch buildings, cityscapes, airports, ports and war monuments are to the smallest details. The models are complete with human, animal, car ´ s and you name it. some buildings that are there to admire:

* Rijksmuseum of Amsterdam

* The Binnenhof in the Hague, complete with the golden carriage

* DOM Tower of Utrecht

* Part of the Delta works

* Schiphol

* Canals with real sailing boats

It is also the birthplace of George Maduro in Madurodam. It is built in 1895 in the Palladian style (a style characterized by harmony and simplicity).

A number of war memorials are:

* National Monument on the Dam

* The Heaver

* The Anne Frank House

* Wilhelmina

* Hotel De Wereld

Madurodam and the Royal House

It was a complete surprise that Queen Juliana gave permission for the construction of a miniature city.

Princess Beatrix was asked whether she has been the Mayor of this city would like to be. During the official opening, she is officially installed as Mayor. This function has they held until they in 1980 to Queen of Netherlands was crowned.

Madurodam and the youth

In 1952, was equal to a Youth Council decided to appoint. Every year wearing the Hague several schools members of this Council. Members (all 16 and 17 years old) sit for two years and, since the coronation of Queen Beatrix, is from their midst the new mayor elected. The Mayor and his Council should be present at every ceremony and they take new models in reception.

The installation of the local Youth happens very officially in the Council room of the municipality of the Hague. The Mayor installs his colleague from Madurodam and install them in turn are municipal councillors.

Enlargement

All models are built in own management of different materials. There is a special Review Committee should give formal agreement for a new project.

If the agreement is given, original construction drawings. This can be obtained via the one in the House or building live or via the municipal archives. The whole construction drawing must be converted to a scale of 1: 25.

These drawings, together with photo ´ s of the respective object must ensure a truthful copy.

The construction time of a scale model ranges, of three months for a small building to two or three months for a large complex.