Teylers Museum Creates 'The Great Illusion' with BenQ LU960ST2 Projectors

Founded in 1778 in Haarlem, the Netherlands, Teylers Museum is the oldest museum in the country, visited by many prominent people such as Napoleon, Einstein, and King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands. It exhibits a fun, informative, and well-balanced mix of scientific instruments, prehistoric artefacts such as fossils and gemstones, and art collections such as paintings.

In their historic building, science and the arts meet, and the past is linked to the present to weave surprising, sensory experiences. The museum’s mission statement is to “broaden your perspective and expand your world,” which is perfectly reflected in their exhibits. The museum reconceptualises history through the lens of modern technology, inextricably intertwining illusion and reality to create a vivid, immersive experience for today’s visitors.

The exhibition ‘The Great Illusion – 200 Years of Virtual Realities’ demonstrates the evolution of optical illusions, from early stereoscopic viewers to modern-day virtual reality, revealing how our fascination with visual trickery has remained unchanged over the centuries.

Aspired by their mission to amaze modern visitors, Teylers Museum decided to use immersive projection to exhibit the optical illusions evolution. They set out to create a dazzling exhibition, “The Great Illusion – 200 Years of Virtual Realities”, that would tell the story of the evolution of optical illusions using optical illusions so that the representation and the mimesis were in harmony.

To fulfill that, they needed a highly immersive environment where the effect of an infinite space could be created using multiple projections and mirrors.

Teylers Museum designated a room of mirrors as the exhibition hall, where projections could be infinitely reflected. However, designing this creative approach came with significant challenges. The hall measured 21.5m x 3.9m with a low ceiling and narrow width, limiting projection angles and installation options. On top of that, a large triangular centrepiece occupied a considerable portion of the room, which further restricted the available projection surfaces. To achieve the desired optical illusion in such a tightly confined space, the museum required a short-throw projection solution that could deliver perfectly blended, high-quality, true-to-life visuals without visible distortions.

Teylers Museum partnered with MAV Techniek, a system integrator with extensive expertise in immersive projection solutions. They decided that they should incorporate projectors with specific features that could not only overcome the spatial confinements but also create the same immersive effect that the museum wanted.

Having worked with BenQ for over seven years, MAV Techniek immediately knew that BenQ could possibly offer the ideal solution. They opted for BenQ among other brands as they had a positive experience with the high-quality projection technology and outstanding support offered by BenQ, which they cited as key reasons for their continued partnership.

After reaching out and consulting with BenQ projection experts, they chose eight BenQ LU960ST2 laser projectors for their short-throw lens, precise vertical shift, flexible installation, and superior colour accuracy. In addition, BenQ provided immediate assistance at every stages of the project to prevent delays, which proved to MAV Techniek that they made the right choice.

BenQ’s LU960ST2 laser projectors feature a 0.5 throw ratio and wide vertical shift, which allowed precisely aligned, large, sharp projections from a very short distance in the limited space available. The 5,200 ANSI lumens brightness ensured crisp, vivid visuals, even in well-lit conditions.

Furthermore, the projectors flawlessly achieved an edge-blending solution, which created distortion-free projections across mirrored surfaces, making the illusion feel natural and immersive. Their DLP technology with WUXGA resolution delivered accurate colour reproduction for a lifelike experience.

Last but not least, BenQ projectors come with some hidden useful features, such as the mark on the bottom of the projector indicating the centre gravity point, which helped installers save time when mounting brackets.

With the projectors in place, the museum could blend digital content with physical mirrors to create a captivating, infinite optical illusion, artfully bringing 19th-century visual effects into the modern age. The result was a stunning, interactive journey that transported visitors through time, giving them a delightful, immersive experience.