Huis Van Gijn was the residence - built in 1729 - of the banker and avid collector Simon van Gijn, who lived here from 1864 until his death in 1922. He left the house and most of his collections to the Vereniging Oud-Dordrecht (Old Dordrecht Society). His wanted to make his collections publicly accessible and for his home to be converted into a museum, maintaining the interior in its original state as much as possible.

Since 1925 Huis Van Gijn has been open to the public, allowing visitors to experience upper class living during the nineteenth-century. Nowadays the museum offers a wide variety of exhibits, ranging from paintings and prints, arms and ships to furniture, silverware and ceramics. The attic holds a unique collection of 19th-century toys. His collection was merged with the collection of the Vereniging Oud-Dordrecht and is constantly being expanded.