The exhibitions of the National Maritime Museum are diverse and for all ages. Interactive exhibitions for children, historical facts for the maritime lover, art objects for the lover of culture and wonderful stories about maritime history for young and old.
In the video (1 minute) below you can see what you can expect, do and experience in The National Maritime Museum/ Het Scheepvaartmuseum. Below the video, you can see which exhibitions (for young and old) are available per wing!
north wing
Humans at Sea
The National Maritime Museum and Dutch National Portrait Gallery present Humans at Sea, a photography exhibition about the broad, divergent maritime world in which amazing, stimulating and moving portraits and stories show how a life at sea can change people.
Humans at Sea Studio
The exhibition Humans at Sea is accompanied by a studio space, set up around the oral history project Queer Spaces at Sea. In this studio you can reflect on the exhibition in different ways, you are stimulated to think about what the sea means to you, about queer culture and about being yourself, about freedom and the lack of thereof.
Republic at Sea
Republic at Sea tells the remarkable story of the Netherlands as a a maritime nation in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
Bringing back the ballast
From 17 February 2023, the National Maritime Museum will present a new acquisition: the watercolour Waves (2), by internationally renowned and acclaimed Belgian artist Hans Op de Beeck.
Hans Op de Beeck - Waves (2)
From 17 February 2023, the National Maritime Museum will present a new acquisition: the watercolour Waves (2), by internationally renowned and acclaimed Belgian artist Hans Op de Beeck.
Dare to discover | a VR journey
Travel through time, through a bustling harbour near The National Maritime Museum and jump into this exciting VR journey.
The Royal Barge
Take a close look at this beautiful golden, royal icon at The National Maritime Museum.
East Indiaman Amsterdam
This replica of the Dutch East Indiaman ship Amsterdam is docked right beside The National Maritime Museum. Walk, climb on the ship, lay in the hammocks, visit the captains cabin and discover much more.
Steamship Christiaan Brunings
The Christiaan Brunings is a sailing monument from 1900 that can be admired on the jetty of Het Scheepvaartmuseum.
west wing
Amsterdam port & city
This exhibition shows the age-old relationship between the harbour and the city, from the moment a dam was built in the Amstel to the future.
The tale of the whale
Read all about the whale through the ages: from monster to endangered species, and walk for example into the mouth of a whale!
Doris the Diver (2+)
Doris the Diver is an adventurous, maritime museum experience for families with children aged 2 years and older. This narrative and interactive exhibition for the youngest museum visitors can now be seen in Het Scheepvaartmuseum. Will we see you soon?
east wing
The Solebay tapestries
Two monumental tapestries designed by Willem van de Velde the Elder (1611-1693) mark the significance of shared Anglo-Dutch heritage. The acquisition is the largest in the history of the museum.
Maps & Marvels
Maps & Marvels shows how Dutch seafarers in the seventeenth century found their way at sea, and how these voyages defined the European world view. Please note that the exhibition will be temporarily closed from October 5th up till October 9th due to maintanance.
The yacht models
Witness a sailing race between old and new yacht models beautifully showcased with interactive information screen.
The navigational instruments
Marvel in this space and navigate among the stars, from grade stick to sextant under a beautiful starry sky.
The ship decorations
Raw beauty and pure craftsmanship within sight of the harbor with beautiful and witty ship ornaments and ship decorations.
Free audio tour
Discover the stories behind the finest objects in our collection in only 60 minutes with our free audio tour.
outside the museum walls
exhibitions outside the museum
Here we will shortly mention which new exhibitions we are organising outside the museum, stay tuned.
expected
Expected exhibitions
Here we will shortly mention which new exhibitions we are working on and which can therefore be seen in The National Maritime Museum (Het Scheepvaartmuseum) in the future.
archive
Decoding the Atlantic World
In the run-up to a new permanent presentation in 2024, The National Maritime Museum invites various artists to give their views on Dutch maritime relations with the Atlantic region. Decoding the Atlantic World questions maritime history and the role it plays in the past, present and future. 1 July until 31 December 2022.
Jakarta | I love Banda | Erasmushuis
The multimedia exhibition I love Banda and the presentation of a long-lost manuscript, Neirabatij's Hikayat was on show from 24 March until 17 June at the Erasmus Huis in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Willem van de Velde & Son
The National Maritime Museum presents a retrospective exhibition of father and son Willem van de Velde; two leading marine artists from the 17th century with a thriving international family business. Each artist with their own specialism: pen and oil paintings.
New York | Kadir van Lohuizen Rising Tide
From 16 April 2021 until 1 May 2022 the travelling exhibition Rising Tide by photographer Kadir van Lohuizen was exhibited at the Museum of the City of New York.
research: a long-lost manuscript
Marking 400 years since the genocide on the Banda Islands, The National Maritime Museum decided to research and present a manuscript about the history of the islands. A Malay manuscript from the collection, published in 1922 by M.S. (Saleh) Neirabatij, was presented in a mini-exhibition until May 2022.
