Maritime museums in the Netherlands

Museum Panorama Mesdag is an icon of The Hague, with the Panorama of Scheveningen being the absolute highlight. Step into the largest painting of The Netherlands, be inspired by the impressive collection of works by Hendrik Willem Mesdag and Sientje Mesdag - van Houten. Visit surprising exhibitions

The Afsluitdijk Wadden Center is an exhibition center situated on the Afsluitdijk in Kornwerderzand, in the Dutch province of Friesland. This location offers a unique opportunity for visitors to learn about the history and future of the Afsluitdijk, the Wadden Sea, the IJsselmeer, and the Fish Migration River.

The National Maritime Museum holds one of the world's largest and most notable maritime collections including paintings, ship models, navigation instruments and sea charts. Discover 500 years of Dutch maritime history and its strong link to society of today and tomorrow. Fun and educational for all

At Museum Batavialand, you uncover hidden stories through three unique experiences: Step aboard the reconstructed VOC ship Batavia, discover traditional crafts at the shipyard, and dive into the history of Flevoland in our exhibition spaces. All included with just one ticket! Parking is easy right

In the Maritime Museum Rotterdam, you can discover the enormous effect that the maritime world has on our daily lives. Travel through the maritime past and present in modern exhibitions for adventurers large and small. Listen to stories and admire prize exhibits from our leading collection. The muse

At the Houseboat Museum, you get the chance to experience first-hand what it’s like to live in a houseboat on an Amsterdam canal. The museum is located in the “Hendrika Maria”, a former cargo ship built in 1914. The cargo hold is now a cosy living space featuring all the conveniences and a surprisin

The Dutch Navy Museum is dedicated to the past and present of the Dutch Navy. The museum illustrates five hundred years of history of the Dutch navy. Important in the museum are the three museum ships, of which submarine ‘Tonijn’ is most striking. On board stories about the navy are told by former c

Museum Kaap Skil is housed in a modern glass building with a shell of wooden beams. The museum is dedicated to Texel and the sea. The collection includes beachcombing objects and dive finds, as well as paintings and prints. In addition, the museum has the largest maritime model in the world.

The Fries Scheepvaartmuseum is dedicated to the history of Frisian shipping from the 17th to the 20th century. The collection consists of two parts: the history of Frisian shipping and the history of the city Sneek. In addition to shipping and the regional history, the museum also covers water and i

Maritime and Beachcomber Museum Flora is the largest beachcomber museum in the world. The museum displays old beachcomber finds and beachcombers talk about their experiences and wanderings on the beach. Various exhibits are on display and films are shown. For children there are scavenger hunts, vari

Muzee Scheveningen is a museum on natural and cultural history in Scheveningen which illustrates the culture, the history and the goings on in the city. The collection consists of a cultural history part and a biology part focused on the sea. The cultural history collection consists mainly of object

Museum aan de A (the former Noordelijk Scheepvaartmuseum) is housed in two medieval buildings. The museum illustrates the history of Groningen and the Groningers.

The MEC Museum (Mechanical Heritage Center) in Dronten is a museum with a large diverse collection, from sewing machines and tools to large steam engines and historic combustion engines. A 1942 English patrol ship/minesweeper, and a 1949 icebreaker, etc. Every third Saturday of the month is steam d

The Katwijk Museum has an international collection of paintings which it combines with a collection of local objects. The museum has a large collection of works from the artists' colony that emerged in Katwijk in the early 20th century. There is also a permanent exhibition on fishery in Katwijk thro

The Maritime Museum Zeeland is a must visit when in Zeeland. It's located in the marina of Vlissingen in a building complex with buildings from the 16th, 17th, 18th and 21st century. The museum is totally renovated en re-opened in 2023. With the free audiotour you'll meet all kind of characters con

The Reddingmuseum Dorus Rijkers is housed in the engine workshop of the former shipyard of the Navy. The museum is named after the famous Dutch savior Dorus Rijkers (1847-1928). The collection illustrates the story of the history of Dutch sea rescue. It exhibits real life boats, models, paintings an

Museum Noordwijk is housed in a four hundred year old farmhouse. It is a museum on art, applied art and the history of Noordwijk. The collection includes Noordwijk costumes and paintings. The museum also has a large collection of ceramics made by porcelain factory ‘De Kroon’, including works by Henr

Museum Hindeloopen illustrates the history of the former ‘Zuiderzee’ town. Objects such as Hindeloopen paintings, Hindeloopen costumes and interiors are on display in various rooms. In addition, the museum covers the merchant navy. There is also a reconstruction of a Hindeloopen house from around 17

Museum Vlaardingen is housed in the ‘Huis met den Lindeboom’, a former ‘redershuis’ from 1742. The museum illustrates the history and fishing culture of Vlaardingen. The collection consists of objects related to the North Sea and the history of the city, ship models, artefacts, paintings, drawings,

The Volendams Museum illustrates how people lived and worked in Volendam in the late 19th century and early 20th century. The collection of the museum includes Volendam (and national) costumes and jewellery, photographs, literary and musical art forms, paintings, drawings, sculptures, pottery, old i

The Veenkoloniaal Museum is a cultural history museum dedicated to the Groningen ‘Veenkoloniën’. The museum covers East Groningen, peat growth and the ‘Bourtanger Moor’. The permanent collection consists of two subcollections: a maritime collection and a collection with objects related to the agricu

The Wrakkenmuseum exhibits objects from shipwrecks that washed up on the shore around Terschelling. Finds from both old and new ships are on display. In addition there are finds from the beach, including messages in bottles and various containers and shoes. The larger objects are exhibited around th

Museumhaven Zeeland is located in the old port of Zierikzee. The museum illustrates the maritime history of Zierikzee and has an indoor and an outdoor location. At the outdoor location at the old harbour, restored ships are on display, including a ‘botter’, a ‘hoogaars’, a clipper and a ‘boeier’. Th

Housed in the former city hall of Zierikzee, the Stadhuismuseum conveys the story of the monumental city of Zierikzee and her surroundings. The building and the collection showcase the historic affluence of this city. From Zierikzee’s former seaport a lively trade in salt and madder took place with

This is a Museum for about and by inland navigation, run by volunteers ( former boaters ).

Skûtsjemuseum "De Stripe" is housed in a building whose design is derived from the "skûthûs," which used to be the heart of a Frisian shipyard. The museum focuses on the lives of an earlier generation of sailors who sailed on skûtsjes. There is also a focus on today's SKS and IFKS championship compe

The IJmuider Zee- en Havenmuseum illustrates the history and development of IJmuiden. This history begins with the digging of the North Sea in the 1870s, the construction of the piers and the locks. The museum has exhibition halls in which visitors learn about towing, fishing and offshore activities

The Zandvoorts Museum is dedicated to the history and art of Zandvoort. The diverse collection includes paintings, furniture, old tools, glassware, pottery, costumes and old beachwear. The museum illustrates the development of Zandvoort from a poor fishing village to a posh seaside resort. The colle

Visserijmuseum Zoutkamp is housed in a monumental storage for sea marks in the old inner harbor. The museum illustrates the history and development of fishery in Zoutkamp. In the museum the fishing vessel ‘Tön 2’ is on display, which illustrates how people used to fish in the 60s and 70s. The perman

The Nationaal Baggermuseum is dedicated to the history of the dredging industry. It illustrates the developments in the dredging industry by displaying historical and recent dredger models. The collection of the museum includes historical photographs, old prints and drawings and various objects from

The Belasting & Douane Museum (Tax & Customs Museum) is housed in two historic houses. It illustrates the history of tax and customs in the Netherlands. The diverse collection includes paintings, photographs, drawings, prints, uniforms, glassware, silver objects, games, smuggling objects and measuri

The Muzeeaquarium Delfzijl is situated at the embankment near the harbour. The museum has permanent exhibitions on archaeology, geology, shipping, fishing and shells. There is also an aquarium with various animals and plants from the North Sea and Wadden Sea, which is constructed in a bunker from th

Museum 't Behouden Huys is dedicated to the history, marine history and culture of Terschelling. The museum illustrates the history of the island and its former inhabitants, with special focus on explorer Willem Barentsz. In 1596 he got stuck in the ice near Nova Zembla, after which he got through t

Cultuurhistorisch Museum Sorgdrager is dedicated to the history, culture and customs of Ameland. The museum includes an originally decorated commander's house from 1751, a print room and an area for temporary exhibitions. A key theme in the museum is the relationship between the inhabitants of Amela

Museum Spakenburg focuses on the themes of farm life, old crafts and fishing. The collection has over seven thousand pieces and includes paintings, furniture, regional costumes, household objects, fishing parts and porcelain and pottery. In addition to typical industrial activity, the museum also fo

Museum van Egmond is the cultural history museum of Egmond. Life of people around 1900 near the sea. Beautiful paintings.

The Flessenscheepjes Museum is housed in the 17th century ‘Spuihuisje’. The museum’s collection consists of more than one thousand bottles with small ships from around the world and from different time periods, including the VOC era and of fishing, lifesaving and whaling. Regularly there is a so cal

Welcome aboard this Dutch navy ship from the 1950s. EXPLORE over 20 ROOMS across 7 DECKS! * Step into the commander’s cabin * cabins of the (sub) officers * sleeping quarters * operations room * SIGN YOUR NAME in the radio cabin * descend to one of the large engine rooms and START THE ENGINES * stan

't Fiskershúske consists of four small houses. The oldest house of the four is from 1794 and is decorated as a fisherman's house from around 1850. The museum exhibits objects related to the old coastal fishing and the lives of the inhabitants of Paesens-Moddergat. The museum also focusses on the dis

Kapiteinshuis Nieuwe Pekela is an old captain's house from the late 18th century. The collection of the museum includes portraits and paintings, writings and various objects, that are related to the history of Pekela and shipping in the 18th and 19th century. In addition, the collection includes Rus

Museum In 't Houten Huis is housed in a wooden structured house from the 18th century. The museum illustrates the rich history of the Schermereiland and its seafaring residents. It exhibits a diverse collection on the history of De Rijp and Schermereiland. Topics that are covered in the museum inclu

Museum 't Kromhout Kromhout is a ‘working museum’ that features a collection of engines that are manufactured by Firma Kromhout. All engines that are on display are still functional and will be demonstrated. The museum also features an original forge from the nineteenth century and a film room with

Museum Ship Castle Vlotburg sails from place to place. For the current berth, check the museum ship's website. On Museum Ship Castle Vlotburg the visitor imagines himself in another world. A historical world with knights, castles and damsels. In Museum Ship Castle Vlotburg, lady Christel and knight

The Dutch Coastal Lighting Museum "In the Lighthouse" is housed in an 1893 lighthouse that served until 1974. The museum features a permanent exhibition on everything related to shipping.

The Hellevoetsluis Antiquities Room displays objects used in daily life throughout the centuries. Central to the museum is the maritime past. But agriculture is also discussed. The antiquities room is arranged thematically around topics such as school, work and shipping.

Museum Tromp's Huys is housed in the oldest building of Vlieland that was built just after 1575. From 1896 it was the residence of the married couple Akersloot. The museum collection consists mainly of paintings, prints, etchings and drawings by Betzy Akersloot-Berg, the former resident. Besides tha

Museumwerf Vreeswijk is both an indoor and outdoor museum. The indoor exhibit is devoted to the history of Vreeswijk. The exhibition center tells about old shipbuilding, propulsion and ship types. At the outdoor museum, a picture of the old shipyard activities is presented and some restored ships ar

The Brouws Museum is situated at the harbor in Brouw. The museum covers all aspects of the relationship of Brouw with its rich maritime history. In the past, the port served both as a port for transhipment, and as a port for fishermen. Brouwershaven is also the hometown of poet Jacob Cats (1577-1660

The Fisheries and Cultural History Museum grew out of the initiative of a group of enthusiastic residents of Woudrichem. They started collecting historical material about river fishing. In a few years, so much material was gathered that it was decided to set up a museum. The collection provides an a

The Mariniersmuseum illustrates the role of marines in the Netherlands over the centuries. The story of the Marine Corps starts in 1665, at the Battle of Chatham. Among other things, the museum covers that battle and the battle of East Java. In addition, the museum has exhibitions on drummers and pi

The Nationaal Sleepvaart Museum is housed in the former town hall at the harbour. The museum is dedicated to the tugboats in inland waterways, in the sea and in ports. The museum features a simulation in which the visitor can navigate a ship. There is also a wall full of various models. In addition,

The Maritiem Trefpunt is dedicated to the entire Dutch merchant marine, Navy, tugboat, coasters, tankers, inland navigation, fishing, sailing and passenger shipping. The museum exhibits include documentaries, books, writings, photographs from 1845 onward, negatives, 16, 35 and 8 mm films, slides, pa

Pampus is a monumental Fort Island off the coast of Amsterdam with 400 years of Primitive Dutch history and adventure. Fort Island Pampus is full of stories, dating back to the VOC era, when ships from the East came to Pampus on their way to Amsterdam.

Museum ship the Buffalo is a piece of sailing maritime cultural heritage. Built in 1868, this ship first served as a ramship for the Dutch Navy, then after 28 years was rebuilt and used as a lodging and training ship in Hellevoetsluis. On board, an exhibition shows the ship's more than 150-year hist

Gemeentemuseum Maassluis illustrates the history of Maassluis and exhibits art. The collection includes paintings, drawings, textiles, objects related to daily life and various handicrafts and models of fishing boats and buildings. The core of the art collection comprises works by figurative artist

The Town Museum CHC Vollenhove highlights the history of Town and Ambt Vollenhove. Its history spans ten centuries, and can be broadly divided into the time of the bishops of Utrecht as lords of the land, the time of the nobility that made the Town of Vollenhove the "city of palaces," and the heyday

Brusea Monumental Fisherman's House and Fisheries Museum is dedicated to Zeeland's history. The antiquities room shows how and fishing family from 1800 lived. In addition to the antiquities room, the museum also displays a collection of mussels, lobsters and crabs, among other things.

The Historic Shipyard C.A. Meerman is a working museum shipyard. It is the oldest shipyard in Zeeland, founded in 1763. The ship shed, the slipway and the fire pit are still in use. The saw shed is fully equipped as a museum. Among other things, old implements and tools can be admired.

The Zompenmuseum tells about the history of Enter as a real zompen and bargee village. Enterse skippers transported products from the region over the Regge and Vecht rivers to Zwolle, for example, but also further as far as Sneek and Groningen. The last remaining zomp, the Regt door Zee from 1875 by

Using models of old and modern ships, photographs, ship objects, stories and themed exhibitions, the Inland Navigation Museum Nijmegen illustrates what life aboard an inland ship is like and what passes by on the river.