Dive into the world of coffee, follow the shopping route, and learn how food was preserved on board of the East Indiaman in the past.
And did you know that children up to 12 years old can enter for free? This makes it a budget-friendly activity as well!
Coffee fleet
Old coffee grounds from our restaurant get a new life during this holiday. Draw your ship, dip it in (coffee) water, and determine the water level. Your drawing will become part of a large coffee fleet. Between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM, drop in at the Open Square.
Shopping route
Go on a journey with the shopping route. Together with your family, you'll discover everything in the museum related to both ships and food and drinks.
Coloring Sea Monsters
Use your imagination, anything is possible and everything is allowed! The coloring activity sheet was created by Kwennie Cheng, who also drew Diver Doris. The sheet is available for free at the Open Square and in the restaurant.
Brine with us
Come along to the galley of the East Indiaman and learn about onboard dining. Did you know that former methods of preserving food are still practical and tasty? Discover and taste it for yourself! Note: Only available from February 17th to 25th at 11:00, 11:45, and 13:00 on the open square.
The Tale of the Whale
The exhibition 'The Tale of the Whale' shows how we have viewed the whale throughout the centuries. You will learn about whale hunting and how it has led to the endangerment of the whale species.
Diver Doris
Diver Doris is an adventurous, maritime museum experience designed for families with children aged 2 years and older. This narrative and interactive exhibition is specially created for the youngest museum visitors.
Food Night with Lelani Lewis - Sold out!
In addition to the exhibition "Food for Thought," The Maritime Museum is organizing three Food Nights. Chef Lelani Lewis will curate the first of this series on January 26th. What are the real costs of global trade? And how do our colonial histories continue to influence the current system?
Please note: come to the museum with a filled stomach. There will be small bites to taste, but no full dinner provided.
Program
Follow the journey of cassava
On this evening, we focus on the food system by tracing one ingredient, cassava. A key component for a large part of the southern hemisphere, providing a basic diet for half a billion people. During this event, we explore how cassava is grown, harvested, processed, and exported across four continents, allowing you to taste the various culinary possibilities.
Mini Routes and Roots Food Market
Ingredients have been shipped worldwide for centuries. In this mini-market, you'll trace cassava, an essential ingredient for a significant portion of the southern hemisphere, providing a basic diet for half a million people. Walk through four continents and learn more about neocolonialism within our current food system.
This way, you get to taste, among other things, bubble tea, affingi soup by Chef Sabini Vola, and egusi and fufu (pureed cassava from Africa) by Chef Sade Zinhagel. Meanwhile, you can listen to stories from teacher Kimberly Kwanten and Lotte Wouters from the Ghana Food Movement
Location: Open Square
Installation
Artist Joana Velu explored the origin of cassava from Latin America to the rest of the world in the context of slavery and colonialism. Her installation, 'How The Cassava Traveled The World,' is on display in the museum.
Location: Open Square
Food Tours
Who produces your food, and where does it come from? Join a food tour and explore the "Food for Thought" exhibition by Kadir van Lohuizen about our current food system. Tours last 20 minutes and start every half hour.
Time: 19:15 - 21:15
Location: Food for Thought Exhibition
Discussion | Decolonization of Our Food System
Lelani engages in a conversation with Chautuileo Tranamil from Indegenous Liberation Movement and co-founder van Aralez, and Lotte Wouters from the Ghana Food Movement. They share more about how we can save our food system and our planet, for instance, through regenerative agriculture.
Time: 20:00
Location: The Rooms
Bites by Lelani
For the first 100 visitors, Lelani will prepare Caribbean canapés: Bammy and Akkra.
About Lelani Lewis
Lelani Lewis is a chef, food stylist, and culinary activist. She grew up in South London with her father from Grenada (Lesser Antilles) and her mother from Ireland. After studying sociology, she started Code Noir, a platform for Caribbean cuisines inspired by the complex history of her father's kitchen. Lelani organizes dinners, workshops, and lectures exploring the intersection of food, history, resistance, and colonialism.
Lelani Lewis
credit: Michelle Margot
Winter holidays in the Maritime Museum
In collaboration with Cinekid we have organised many activities for children. Because our temporary exhibition Food for Thought (for adults and older children) is about food, our entire holiday programming has a food twist this year.
Create your own thaumatrope (ages 3+)
A thaumawat? Thaumatrope means "wonder spinning." It is an early precursor to film: by spinning paper rapidly, an illusion is created. In the 19th century, it was a popular toy. The fun part is that you can make one yourself! Create your own Diver Doris thaumatrope, or let your imagination run wild and design your own image. Daily between 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM, walk-in at the Open Courtyard.
Green screen – Jump into the photo!
Take a family photo, naturally in the style of the National Maritime Museum. Where would you like to be? With Diver Doris or perhaps on a ship? Pose together in front of the green screen and transport yourself to another world! Daily from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM, walk-in at the Open Courtyard.
Scavenger Hunt: A Museum Full of People (6+)
This museum is filled with many objects. But it’s not just about objects—it’s about people too! With this scavenger hunt, you’ll get to meet a few of them. Ready to join? You can do this hunt on your own, but it’s even more fun with someone else. Enjoy! Available daily during opening hours at the Open Courtyard.
Cinekid pop-up cinema
Settle into one of the beanbags at the one and only Cinekid pop-up cinema. Throughout the Christmas holidays, a compilation of short films will be shown. These films are accessible to non-Dutch speakers, as they contain no spoken language. Daily during opening hours, walk-in via the Open Courtyard.
Divers Doris
Diver Doris is an adventurous, maritime museum experience for families with children aged 2 and up. In this space, children can explore Het Scheepvaartmuseum, develop a love for water, and discover the maritime world in an accessible way.
The Tale of the Whale
A parent and child explore the immersive "The Tale of the Whale" exhibition at The National Maritime Museum, surrounded by striking blue lighting and life-sized maritime displays, including the whale's mouth and a wooden boat.
East Indiaman Amsterdam
Visit the replica of the East Indiaman Amsterdam: a key part of your museum visit. On board, there is much to learn about East Indiamen and the history of the VOC (Dutch East India Company). Reflect on our colonial past and share your thoughts about the future of the Amsterdam.
Junior audiotour
Do you want to know who killed Michiel de Ruyter? What kind of food was available on board an East Indiaman? And why hunting whales isn’t such a good idea? You’ll find out all about it in the junior audio tour. In the new year, the junior audio tour will be updated.
Color-and-activity sheet Sea Monsters
What extraordinary sea monsters you see here! But wait, a head is missing, and a tail is gone... Can you make these sea monsters whole again? A friendly monster or perhaps a really angry one. Use your imagination—anything is possible! The color-and-activity sheet is available for free in the café during opening hours.