The face of human evolution
From 29 November 2009 to 28 February 2010 this very special exhibition presents the original skull of the earliest hominin ever found outside Africa. The discovery of this skull in Georgia has raised many questions about human evolution from all over the world. Neither the skulls age of 1.8 million years and small brain size nor the locality where it was found fitted the previous theories on our ancestors' migration.
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Island hopping on the Darwin Expedition
From 13 February 2009 to 3 January 2010 visitors to Naturalis can go island hopping on our new Darwin Expedition. Being cut off from the rest of the natural world makes islands the pressure cookers of evolution. What does it mean to have no enemies or to be one of the first animals to colonise an island? The Darwin Expedition gets you thinking about extreme forms of natural life and introduces you to Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. more information >>

Mauritian dodobones of most importance to the world
For the third year in a row the international dodo-expedition team, in which Naturalis scientists participate, has returned from Mauritius. An enormous amount of material from the dodo-massgrave in Mare aux Songes has been searched to find 54 dodobones belonging to at least two individuals, including very rare small bones likes nails, toebones and wingbones. more information >>

Wildebeest's in Naturalis
The wildebeest's migration through Africa is one of the most fascinating animal spectacles in the world. The famous filmmaker Hugo van Lawick shot huge amounts of footage of this great migration. This exhibition lets you empathise with the wildebeest, escape from lions on the prowl, brave fearsome crocodiles and admire bold little wildebeest calves. more information >>

Herman the Bull
On Friday 15 February 2007 Herman the Bull, the first genetically modified mammal in the world, returned to his old stamping ground, the Naturalis Museum in Leiden. He is an icon of scientific progress and the subsequent public discussion of these issues. Information and public discussion remain important. And that is the symbolic value of having Herman the Bull in Naturalis. more information >>