The Het Scheepvaartmuseum is the national maritime museum located in the docklands to the east of Amsterdam.
The museum is one of the city's main attractions.
Today, let's take a closer look.
Amsterdam Maritime Museum: article summary
Amsterdam Maritime Museum: at a glance
The Scheepvaartmuseum is housed in the Zeemagazijn (Arsenal), a former Amsterdam Admiralty warehouse built in 1656 and designed by Dutch architect Daniel Stalpaert.
It remained a naval building until 1973, when it was converted into the country's national maritime museum.
The museum was closed between 2007 and 2011 and underwent a complete renovation. Thanks to the latter, you can now see the magnificent glass roof over the museum. the inner courtyard, composed of some 1,200 pieces of glass.
The design is inspired by the compass lines seen on old nautical charts.
The different sections of the Maritime Museum
The museum is divided into 3 gallery sections: west, east and north.
The west wing
This section contains The Tale of the Whale, which examines the great sea creature hunted to near extinction. Amsterdam Port & City shows you the relationship between port and city in the past, present and future.
Doris The Diver is an interactive marine experience for young children aged 2 and over.
What to see in the east wing
This section includes Maps & Marvels, one of the world's finest collections of maps and globes. Yacht models contain a collection of 74 models of sailing, rowing and motor boats in the Netherlands.
The Navigation Instruments Room is a beautifully presented exhibition showing how sailors used the stars to navigate.
Last but not least, the Ship Decorations Room showcases the symbolism and craftsmanship of sculpted ship's heads. inspired by biblical and mythological themes.
The North wing, to round off your visit
The main gallery on the first floor houses the Republic at Sea exhibition, with some 50 masterpieces telling the story of how the Netherlands came to be. significant naval power. The second floor houses temporary exhibitions.
Amsterdam Maritime Museum: see the royal barge
You can also climb aboard and explore the replica of the VOC East Indiaman Amsterdam, which is 48 m long and has 16 cannons. There's a virtual reality exhibition on board called Dare to Discover.
The original ship was wrecked in a violent storm off the English town of Hastings in 1749 on her maiden voyage to Asia.
Having been preserved in the mud over the centuries, the ship was excavated in the 1980s and yielded the following information an insight into the shipbuilding techniques of the time.
Construction of the full-scale replica began in 1985. Since the end of construction, the replica has been moored at the Maritime Museum.
What are the opening hours of the Maritime Museum?
The venue opens :
- Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Closed on Mondays, April 27, December 25 and December 1.er January.
How much does admission cost?
To visit this museum, you must pay an entrance fee. To visit the site, you'll need to pay :
- 17,50 € for adults
- 8,50 € for ages 4 to 17.
Admission is free for children aged 0-3, Amsterdam City Card and Museumkaart holders.
How do I get there?
The museum is a 15-20 minute walk east of Central Station, either via the Central Library and NEMO, or along Prins Hendrikkade. By public transport, I recommend you take the bus GVB 22 (Muiderpoortstation) from the main station. Get off at the Kattenburgerplein stop.
The Amsterdam Maritime Museum is a place full of wonders. During your visit, I advise you to take a tour of this place.
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