The Eise Eisinga Planetarium, a UNESCO World Heritage site in the Netherlands inscribed in September 2023, is the world’s oldest working planetarium, built between 1774 and 1781 by amateur astronomer Eise Eisinga in Franeker, Friesland. Housed in his living room, this intricate mechanical model of the solar system, powered by a single pendulum clock driving nine weights, accurately tracks planetary orbits on a painted ceiling. Recognized as the Netherlands’ 13th UNESCO site, it reflects Enlightenment-era scientific curiosity and craftsmanship, inspiring modern astronomy and preserving an intact 18th-century marvel visited by royalty and scholars alike.

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