Waag Society and the Archive of the province of Drenthe have developed Operation Sigismund. Operation Sigismund is an experiential learning environment: a magic realist representation of an archive, combining game elements, narrative elements and learning goals in a clearly defined physical space within the Archiveís building. The project brings the archive to life for children in primary schools. The children get pulled in by an exciting story and have to protect an important private collection against all kinds of dangers -- like dampness, fire, and ink corrosion - and solve the mystery of Sigismund. The context, contents and rationale of the project are described.