Contact us

We would be glad to hear from you. We collaborate with institutions to choose which places to reconstruct, carry out the research, and present each story with integrity. You can reach us via hello@timelens.eu.

You can support the project on Patreon from three euros a month or simply donate to our foundation by bank transfer (NL05RABO0172535611). Patreon supporters follow our progress through early previews and behind the scenes insights, and at higher levels can vote on which locations we develop next, have their name featured, or even appear in a reconstruction.

TimeLens is an app that lets you see historic places as they once were. Standing at a site, you hold up your phone and watch ruined or vanished buildings rise again around you in a full 360 degree reconstruction, complete with the people, details and atmosphere that once filled the space. Every scene is grounded in historical research.

The app shows a map of TimeSpots, the exact points where a reconstruction is available. You make your way to one, hold up your phone, and look around to see the place restored in every direction. An optional audio guide adds context about the buildings, people and events as you explore.

No. TimeLens runs on an ordinary smartphone. You experience the 360 degree scene simply by moving your phone to look around you.

TimeLens is available for both iPhone and Android, through the App Store and Google Play. It is built to run smoothly across a wide range of devices, including older smartphones.

Yes. The app is designed to be easy and intuitive for all ages, so the technology stays in the background and you can focus on the place itself.

The in-app map shows every location available today, as well as new sites in development. We work with museums and heritage organisations across several countries and continue to add more.

The app itself is free and many locations can be explored free of charge. Some sites offer additional scenes or extra moments in time that can be unlocked for a small fee. This keeps TimeLens broadly accessible while allowing us to fund new reconstructions.

At selected locations, yes. You can explore the same place across different moments in history and see how the buildings and the life around them changed over the centuries.

The audio guide is narrated context that plays as you explore, explaining the buildings, the people and the events that shaped the place. It is designed to keep you immersed in your surroundings rather than pulling your attention to a screen.

Each TimeSpot you visit becomes part of your personal collection, marked with a badge. Certain combinations of TimeSpots unlock achievements. All of these earn TimeCoins that you can spend on profile elements that show what kind of explorer you have become.

Every reconstruction is created together with museums, historians, archaeologists and cultural institutions, and grounded in academic research. Each scene is carefully reviewed for historical accuracy before it goes live.