National Maritime Museum
National Maritime Museum things to do, attractions, restaurants, events info and trip planning
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Very nice museum! I wish I had more time planned to be here. You can easily be here for a few hours if you take your time and really get to enjoy the different exhibits. They have cool lockers that are free for guests. You scan a bar code and you get assigned a locker...available in big and small sizes. Even the small is huge. You’re not allowed to bring backpacks so you need to use it. There are toilets everywhere. That was convenient! TIP. There are two ships you can walk through...but one of them is only open on the weekends. Since I came on a Friday, I did not get to visit they. Plan accordingly. However, the ship they I did get to visit was really cool. You can climb up and down to the different decks and see what it’s like. Inside the museum itself...I found a lot of interesting exhibits. Such as...how did people first navigate the seas? You get to see the different tools they used to determine longitude and latitude way before fancy computers exist now. It’s quite amazing how it continued to evolve. And of course there’s other stuff too but I really enjoyed that part :) I would plan 2 hours here. Oh! And if you’ve been to another museum in Amsterdam...then you’re familiar with the audio guides. They have that here too (included in the price of admission) and it’s available in many languages.
Danny ChongDanny Chong
00
The building and location of the museum are stunning. Architecturally wise I really enjoyed the museum, the inside court is beautiful with the dome. However the exhibitions are quite small, we visited maybe 4 small rooms that were very nice and interesting but not enough… the cost of the ticket is 17,5 EUR, I would have expect to see more rooms with far more information. It’s a pity and we were disappointed. You can visit the big ship outside which is one of the best part for me, however there was no audio for adults available. We had higher expectations for this museum, I would suggest checking website to see what is currently displayed and asking for directions to find the rooms size the building is huge a with many stair cases but the directions of the visits is not very well explained. Library and shop are very nice. I would recommend to get a discount card that includes this museum and visiting on a sunny day as they have a beautiful outside deck with long chairs to have a nice break after the visit.
Marcela MoreauMarcela Moreau
10
Disappointing. From the hardly legible (and scanty) maps on display to the misinformation on the exhibits, this museum is hardly worth the time or effort. The building itself however is worth at least 3 stars: the new domed roof over the courtyard is very interesting and the "cellar" with its arched caverns is really unique. But the audio tour leaves much to be desired; often the link doesn't match what it is next to in the exhibit. It's confusing. Also there aren't very many of the audio items, making the rest of the exhibit even more boring. In the navigation room, the exhibit INCORRECTLY sites John Campbell as "the inventor of the sextant." This is a jaw-dropping and shocking error, showing how little the curators respect accuracy and history. Unacceptable! The topics of cartography, navigation, history and trade are some of my biggest interests but I was happy to leave this museum that left me exhausted and bored.
Shera StimmerShera Stimmer
00
I used to go here regularly with my dad, but they renovated it between 2007 and 2011 and now it is basically only useful to organize house-parties. The exposition lacks all the drama and items that the old museum used to offer. No periscopes to watch through (loved that as a kid) and hardly any models of ancient and WW2 warships. The only mention of Piet Heijn and the Silverfleet is in the form of a "remembrance coin". Really pathetic. Also, the slavery past of the Dutch is basically glossed over/deleted from the texts next to the paintings. It just says "This or that admiral....and an UNKNOWN man" where it is obviously meant to portray slavery. The whole building feels "half empty" (or "half full", but that would still sound terrible for a museum). The 2 stars is for the fact it actually has a replica East-Indiaman that you can walk around in.
Edward LemmingEdward Lemming
00
The Maritime Museum is very nice and educational, here you can learn about the history of Dutch shipping. There is a ship outside that you can board which is very impressive and there is also a show for the younger visitors. Below in the hold you can see what this ship was carrying and how the crew slept, you can lie down in a hammock for a while. You can also see the kitchen and captain's cabin and staterooms. Further in the museum you can see the king's gilded ship. And in other rooms there are displays of things she used on the ship or what she took with her. There is also a restaurant where you can order something to drink and eat and sit on the terrace inside or in the square. The building has elevators and there are toilets for the disabled. Location close to the parking lot, the center of Amsterdam as well as the main train station.
Luki KLuki K
10
Very impressive experience during the visit to this wonderful museum which is introducing you in the great Dutch maritime history. The building is large and nicely restored with an impressive collection of maquettes, specific objects paintings and areas designed for kids entertainment. If you have this wonderful site on your list be prepared to allow you more than 3 hours to spend inside and if you are joined by kids than 5 hours will pass like minutes. The ship Amsterdam exposed outside is fabulous and represents exactly the life on the sea couple of centuries ago, you will need up to an hour to visit. The royal barge is an impressive piece of art which will fascinate any of the visitors out to see it. Overall was a great experience visiting this museum and I would highly recommend it as a must if you are in the city and time allows you.
Catalin LupuCatalin Lupu
00
Nearby Attractions Of National Maritime Museum
ARTIS
NEMO Science Museum
Rembrandt House Museum
Hortus Botanicus
museum Rembrandthuis
The National Maritime Museum
Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam
Micropia
Mövenpick Hotel Amsterdam City Centre
Aloha

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Basic Info
Address
Kattenburgerplein 1, 1018 KK Amsterdam, Netherlands
Map
Phone
+31 20 523 2222
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Website
hetscheepvaartmuseum.nl
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Reviews
Overview
4.5
(5K reviews)
Ratings & Description
attractions: ARTIS, NEMO Science Museum, Rembrandt House Museum, Hortus Botanicus, museum Rembrandthuis, The National Maritime Museum, Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam, Micropia, Mövenpick Hotel Amsterdam City Centre, Aloha, restaurants: Brouwerij 't IJ, Sea Palace Restaurant, MOAK Pancakes City Center, New King, Restaurant Olijfje, Waag, Greenhouse Effect Coffeeshop Amsterdam, Kim's So Korean Food Centrum, Mojo Japanese Kitchen, Hannekes Boom

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