The National Maritime Museum is a household name in the international museum world and a destination for a wonderfuldaytrip, right in Amsterdam’s city center. Embracing the motto ‘water connects worlds‘, the museum presents 500 years of Dutch maritime history and aims to connect societies of today and tomorrow. Will you drop by soon?
The museum – located at the lively Marineterrein at the northern edge of the Eastern Docklands – moved into the former NavalArsenal in 1973. This monumental building, dating from 1656, was designed by Daniel Stalpaert as a storage for the Admiralty of Amsterdam. Now, more than 350 years later, the museum is still an eye-catcher for the entire city and a spot for all kinds of visitors to come together and indulge in a maritime art experience.
The National Maritime Museum preserves one of the largest and most notable maritime collections in the world and includespaintings, ship models, navigation instruments and sea charts. This ranges from classic displays such as the main gallery Republicat Sea and Maps & Marvels to more contemporary exhibitions such as Amsterdam Port & City and (from 8 October 2022 onwards) Humans at Sea: a photography exhibition with moving and unpredictable portraits and stories about people living theirlife at sea throughout history.
In addition to permanent exhibitions, The National Maritime Museum offers a broad program for visitors of all ages. Plenty of programming takes place surrounding new temporary exhibitions and every school holiday goes hand in hand with a packedschedule of family activities – from boattrips with Plastic Whale Foundation (fishing plastic out of the canals) and a kids-guide tocrafting activities and guided tours on the large ship, the East Indiaman ‘Amsterdam’. From August onwards, a new exhibitioncalled Doris the Diver will be on show for families with kids aged 2 to 6: an exciting story filled with playful activities, about a young diver seeking to return light to a lighthouse.
Perhaps, you have visited the building in the past for a wedding, conference or concert. The National Maritime Museum – withits docks next to the water overlooking the Oosterdok area, multiple event spaces, and of course the Open Square – is also a versatile event location.
The National Maritime Museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm. During school holidays, the museum is open on Mondays as well. Admission is free for people with a Museumcard. For more information about the exhibitions, programming, prices and much more, visit hetscheepvaartmuseum.com. Stay informed by signing up for the newsletter andfollowing @hetscheepvaartmuseum on social media.