Museum
Het Scheepvaartmuseum
The National Maritime Museum, with a full-size replica of an East Indiaman moored outside.
Photo: Ton Heijnen / Google
- Type
- Museum
About the experience
Set in a grand former naval storehouse on the eastern docklands, Het Scheepvaartmuseum (the National Maritime Museum) tells the story of the Netherlands' centuries-long relationship with the sea — the trade, exploration, and naval power that built Amsterdam during the Golden Age.
What to see
Galleries of paintings, globes, navigation instruments, and ship models trace the rise of Amsterdam as a trading capital. The highlight sits outside on the dock: a full-size replica of the Dutch East India Company ship Amsterdam, which you can board to see how sailors slept, ate, and worked. Family-friendly trails make it a strong choice with children.
Practical
Open daily 10:00–17:00. It is cheaper to book tickets online. Entry is free for under-12s, and with a Museumkaart or I amsterdam City Card. Allow two to three hours. Check current ticket prices on the official website.
Maritime history here is also a way into the Netherlands’ colonial past. The trading networks represented in the collection were tied to conquest, exploitation and slavery, as well as exchanges of goods and knowledge. Keep that wider context in mind when looking at objects made to display wealth or celebrate naval achievement. Maps are particularly revealing: beyond helping sailors find their way, they show how people pictured the world and asserted claims over distant territories.
After your visit, the surrounding waterfront offers a useful change of pace. Head towards the Marineterrein, a former naval site with publicly accessible grounds, to see how Amsterdam is adapting parts of its working waterfront. Nearby NEMO Science Museum makes an obvious pairing if you want another indoor attraction, particularly with children. Alternatively, continue towards the Oosterdok for views across the water and a walk back in the direction of Amsterdam Centraal.
Photo gallery
Photo: N G_MISSOURRY / Google · Photo: Sören Eichhorn / Google · Photo: René Daalmans / Google · Photo: Uğur Irmak / Google · Photo: Matthias Gauger / Google
Tips from locals
Board the full-size VOC ship Amsterdam moored at the jetty — climb the decks and peek into the captain's quarters.
Look up at the spectacular glass roof over the courtyard, its pattern inspired by old nautical compass charts.
It's great for kids — they can fire a cannon, try a hammock and take the ship's wheel.
Pick up the free audio tour (in 11 languages) to hit the collection highlights in about an hour.
It's a short walk from NEMO and Central Station along the waterfront — easy to combine.
Did you know?
It's housed in 's Lands Zeemagazijn, a 1656 former Admiralty arsenal that stored the navy's cannons and supplies.
The VOC ship Amsterdam outside is a full-size replica; the original wrecked off Hastings on its maiden voyage in 1749.
The glass roof over the courtyard is made of around 1,200 panels, its design based on lines from old sea charts.
It holds one of the largest maritime collections in the world.
The building served the Dutch navy until the early 1970s before becoming a museum.
Frequently asked questions
What are the opening hours?
Daily 10:00–17:00, closed on 1 January, 25 December, and King's Day.
How much is admission?
Entry is cheaper when booked online. It is free for children under 12, and free with a Museumkaart or I amsterdam City Card. Check current ticket prices on the official website.
Can you board the ship?
Yes — the full-size replica of the VOC ship Amsterdam is moored outside and is open to explore.
Is it good for children?
Very — it has dedicated family trails and interactive, playful exhibits.
Het Scheepvaartmuseum, Amsterdam
Kattenburgerplein 1, 1018 KK, Amsterdam