Toys and games
in Antiquity
Imagine this: a child playing marbles on a dusty Roman marketplace, legionaries filling their leisure time with dice games, a craftsman carefully carving wooden dolls for the children of the neighbourhood…
Through these vivid scenes, we invite you to Ludi Romani, a unique and immersive experience centred on games and toys in Roman times. The City of Oudenburg, in collaboration with the City of Wervik, Cultuurforum Aardenburg, and the non-profit organisations Viroviacum and Gallo-Romeins Weekend, brings this special experience to life.
Toys and games
in Antiquity
Imagine this: a child playing marbles on a dusty Roman marketplace, legionaries filling their leisure time with dice games, a craftsman carefully carving wooden dolls for the children of the neighbourhood…
Through these vivid scenes, we invite you to Ludi Romani, a unique and immersive experience centred on games and toys in Roman times. The City of Oudenburg, in collaboration with the City of Wervik, Cultuurforum Aardenburg, and the non-profit organisations Viroviacum and Gallo-Romeins Weekend, brings this special experience to life.
The travelling exhibition takes you on a journey through four themes, each offering its own perspective on play and toys in Antiquity. Original finds and carefully crafted replicas form the basis of an interactive experience that captivates both young and old. The exhibition will be presented successively at the RAM in Oudenburg, the Museum Cultuurforum Aardenburg, and the National Tobacco Museum in Wervik.
But Ludi Romani is more than an exhibition. During the three Roman festivals in Oudenburg, Wervik, and Aardenburg, dedicated routes are developed that invite visitors to play, explore, and experience for themselves.
Educational packages, hands-on activities, and toy trunks provide additional interaction, making them ideal for children, schools, and families. In this way, young visitors — through play and learning — discover how their peers enjoyed themselves 2,000 years ago. For teenagers and young adults, immersive camps and board game clubs are organised, while those seeking deeper insight can attend engaging lectures given by specialists.
Activities
- Saturday 4 April to Sunday 26 July 2026: Ludi Romani exhibition, Roman Archaeological Museum, Oudenburg (ram.oudenburg.be)
- Sunday 26 April 2026: Ludi(ek) Romani. Workshop on Roman “fopaardewerk” pottery and guided tour of the exhibition (Heritage Day), Roman Archaeological Museum, Oudenburg (ram.oudenburg.be)
- Sunday 17 May 2026: lecture on Roman board games, Oudenburg (Jo Vansteenkiste) (ram.oudenburg.be)
- Saturday 30 May – Sunday 31 May 2026: Roman Weekend Oudenburg and Archaeology Days (ram.oudenburg.be)
- Sunday 14 June 2026: lecture on Roman toys, Oudenburg (Annemarieke Willemsen) (ram.oudenburg.be)
- Saturday 1 August to Sunday 27 September 2026: Ludi Romani exhibition, Museum Cultuurforum, Aardenburg (www.cultuurforumaardenburg.nl)
- Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 August 2026: Roman Weekend Aardenburg (www.cultuurforumaardenburg.nl)
- Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 August 2026: lectures on Roman board games and toys, Aardenburg (Annemarieke Willemsen and Jo Vansteenkiste) (www.cultuurforumaardenburg.nl)
- Saturday 3 October to Sunday 29 November 2026: Ludi Romani exhibition, National Tobacco Museum, Wervik (https://www.nationaaltabaksmuseum.be/nl/)
- Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 October 2026: Gallo-Roman Weekend Wervik (info@galloromeinsweekend.be)
DATES & EXHIBITION LOCATIONS
- Ludi Romani exhibition, Roman Archaeological Museum, Oudenburg: Saturday 4 April to Sunday 26 July 2026 (ram.oudenburg.be)
- Ludi Romani exhibition, Museum Cultuurforum, Aardenburg: Saturday 1 August to Sunday 27 September 2026 (www.cultuurforumaardenburg.nl)
- Ludi Romani exhibition, National Tobacco Museum, Wervik: Saturday 3 October to Sunday 29 November 2026 (www.nationaaltabaksmuseum.be)