Het Scheepvaartmuseum (The National Maritime Museum) houses one of the world’s biggest collections of nautical art and artefacts, including globes, paintings, ship models, and more. The collection is the backbone of fascinating exhibitions about the Netherlands and the country’s elemental connection with the sea. And these exhibits do not neglect to show the darker side of the romance and adventure, like the Netherlands’ role as coloniser and oppressor. They also make the connection between the past and the present, and can illuminate current issues like globalisation and the environment in the light of a historical perspective.

Visitors to Het Scheepvaartmuseum can experience the sea stories of yesterday and today. The museum also offers special exhibits for parents and children. And the replica of the Dutch East Indiaman the Amsterdam, docked alongside the quay, is perhaps the museum’s biggest attraction, literally and figuratively.