Dangerous Books
500 Years of Science Under Fire
06.03.2026 - 30.08.2026
Adults
Books have the ability to change the world. They offer knowledge, present new ideas, and explore the future. For the authorities books might therefore pose a threat. They have no need for new insights that may open the door to change.
This exhibition Dangerous Books introduces you to scientific books that were once banned by the Church, the State, or both. These powerful institutes felt threatened by the knowledge these works contained: too provocative, too critical, too innovative.
Today, freedom of information forms an essential component of a democratic society. But how much freedom of knowledge do we actually have these days? Is scientific censorship really a thing of the past? You can further explore these questions on the basis of iconic works that are rarely shown together – from Copernicus to Einstein.
This exhibition is on show in Exhibition Gallery 2 of Teylers Museum.
Are you sensitive to stimuli? If so, please be aware that the use of color in this exhibition is intense.
