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) we have on display.
highlights
Main gallery: Republic at Sea
Republic at Sea tells the remarkable story of the Netherlands as a a maritime nation in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
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.
now on show
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.
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.
Genever at sea
Genever at Sea, the result of research fellow Charlotte Jarvis, is now on show at Het Scheepvaartmuseum's presentation room.
always on show
The main gallery: Republic at Sea
Republic at Sea tells the remarkable story of the Netherlands as a maritime nation in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
East Indiaman Amsterdam
The 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.
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 seafares in the seventeenth century found their way at sea, and how these voyages defined the European world view.
The navigational instruments
Marvel in this space and navigate among the stars, from grade stick to sextant under the beautiful starry sky.
Steamship Christiaan Brunings
The Christiaan Brunings is a sailing monument from 1900 that can be admired on the jetty of the National Maritime Museum.
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.
Doris the Diver (2+)
Doris the Diver is an adventurous, maritime museum experience for families with children aged 2 years and older. This narative and interactive exhibition for the youngest museum visitors can now be seen in the National Maritime Museum. Will we see you soon?
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!
The Royal Barge
Take a close look at this beautiful golden, royal icon at The National Maritime Museum.
The yacht models
Witness a sailing race between old and new yacht models beautifully showcased with interactive information screen.
The ship decorations
Raw beauty and pure craftmanship within sight of the harbor with beautiful and witty ship ornaments and ship decorations.
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.
Bringing back the ballast, door Nathan Coley
In the north hall (towards the jetty, where the East Indiaman Amsterdam and the Royal Barge are located) there has been a brick wall since 2011, built by the Scottish artist Nathan Coley. The artwork is called: 'Bringing back the ballast'.
expected
Food for Thought
On Friday the 3rd of November, The National Maritime Museum presents Food for Thought, featuring the works of photographer and documentary maker Kadir van Lohuizen. The exhibition showcases the world behind food production, where it is produced and how it travels across the world.
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
Humans at Sea
The National Maritime Museum and Dutch National Portrait Gallery presented from the 7th of October till July 2nd 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.
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.
