It’s simple to assume {that a} museum about seafaring and ships may not be probably the most child-friendly – however as my evaluation of the Amsterdam Maritime Museum with children goes to point out, this ought to be on each household’s listing.
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As a result of with the Dutch as soon as within the forefront of exploring the globe, studying extra concerning the seafarers of the Golden Age is ideal in case your children love tales of journey – nicely, who doesn’t fancy imagining themselves on deck in search of out new worlds?
And the Nationwide Maritime Museum (Het Scheepvaartmuseum) is splendidly interactive, particularly the full-scale reproduction of the Dutch East India Firm ship Amsterdam, one of many highlights for households. However whether or not you’re visiting Amsterdam with toddlers or teenagers, there’s one thing to find.
Housed in a stupendous Seventeenth-century naval storehouse on the waterfront, the museum tells the story of the Netherlands’ maritime historical past by a collection of everlasting and non permanent exhibitions.
However it’s removed from being a dusty assortment of previous nautical devices – you’ll discover a lot for all ages, from a bit on early maps and the trendy expertise concerned at this time to Amsterdam’s port heritage, but in addition the stunning Doris the Diver play space aimed age 2+, to not point out a bit on whales (for six+).
With a 60-minute junior audio information to comply with, and loads of probabilities to get palms on, you would end up doing something from pretending to load cargo, hearth a cannon, recognizing strange figureheads, studying about whale ears, smelling spices which as soon as travelled by town and an entire lot extra.
The museum itself is split into three most important areas – north, east and west, with the completely different wings set round a courtyard. I’d recommend beginning with with north space, and heading exterior to the three vessels moored out the again, particularly the Amsterdam,
Having the ability to board this reproduction 18th-century Dutch East India Firm ship is definitely the massive spotlight of a go to, letting children discover under deck, climb round, and picture life as a sailor.
However it additionally encourages guests to have a look at the nation’s colonial previous and its darker chapters, in addition to elevating questions on whether or not a reproduction like this could ever be constructed at this time, given altering attitudes to colonial historical past.
Whilst you ponder that, there’s an opportunity to immerse your self within the Amsterdam of centuries passed by, with a video whisking you across the harbour and canals, displaying life as it might have been – from ship-building, to tearful farewells on the dock as sailors set off.
However then you definately’ll spend a big chunk of your go to exploring across the ship, the place cannon sit prepared to fireside (in your creativeness, at the least) and crates are piled able to discover within the maintain.
In actual fact, this a part of the maintain is designed to be a climbing space for teenagers aged 4-12, making it very a lot a contact, don’t simply look house.
In the event you don’t fancy scrambling over barrels (or are a bit too previous to attempt!), there are an entire string of different interactive components.
Pull on the ropes to see when you can carry one of many heavy crates, for instance, or open one other to get a scent of the spices which drove Dutch exploration and colonisation, a vastly profitable commerce in gadgets you may choose up for a pound in your native grocery store at this time.
For older children, there’s one other show on the VOC itself – the Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie, or Dutch East India Firm. One of many first joint inventory corporations on the planet, the shows don’t draw back from the ruthlessness behind the commerce in spices, together with the numbers enslaved and occasions just like the Banda bloodbath.
When you’ve appeared round downstairs, there’s a lot extra to see upstairs, as you peek into or wander inside among the cabins.
There’s an opportunity to see what the surgeon on board might need needed to deal with the crew, in addition to the extra luxurious captain’s quarters with their very own personal bathroom. Youngsters might be of their component with among the low ceilings the place adults are virtually bent double.
Or benefit from the desk arrange for officers to dine, with an enormous spherical orange-waxed cheese on the desk alongside pots, glassware and loaves of bread.
There are some improbable views from the deck as nicely, searching to Nemo Science Centre throughout the water, and again in the direction of the museum itself. Plus some helpful data boards on among the extra ugly elements of life at sea…. not least the realities of what occurs once you don’t have bathroom paper!
Whereas the Amsterdam is definitely probably the most fascinating ship to discover, it’s not the one one. The icebreaker SS Christiaan Brunnings, which was in-built 1904, sits on the other dock, though you may’t presently board that.
And subsequent door, the lavish royal barge, commissioned by King William I and constructed between 1816 and 1818. First utilized by King WIlliam II in 1841, its final official outing was in 1962 for the silver wedding ceremony anniversary celebrations of Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard.
Whilst you can’t board the barge itself, you may stand up near admire the gilded particulars, and there are some screens to offer extra data (sadly most weren’t working throughout my go to, though you may hearken to the audio information). Realistically, that is extra of a fast cease to ooh and aaah.
When you’ve explored the ships outdoor, it’s time to go again indoors. The non permanent exhibitions are within the wing subsequent to the ships, together with the principle gallery Republic at Sea.
Otherwise you’ll discover different everlasting collections within the east wing, and extra interactive exhibitions and family-friendly choices within the west part.
Republic At Sea makes use of 50 artworks and different artefacts to inform the story of how the Netherlands turned a maritime nation, with all the pieces from particular person tales to work of battles alongside the way in which.
You’ll want the audio information to grasp what’s been included and why (with a youngsters’s audioguide obtainable) so it’s all a bit slower after the hands-on enjoyable of being on board, however you may cherry-pick your means round, with fashions and cannon to identify too.
Or head over to the east wing, the place you’ll discover a complete room filled with extra ship fashions – there’s a enjoyable slider which brings the fashions nearly to life (though they weren’t all working both, so that you might need to attend a bit to get one).
And elsewhere, a string of ship decorations that includes animal faces – together with these improbable lions – alongside a string of figureheads, each female and male in varied uniforms and outfits.
For older children, the 2 rooms devoted to charting the ocean and a separate one on navigational devices are fascinating.
You’ve bought historic maps from the times when the world was nonetheless being explored, by to the small print of modern-day map making, and the expertise used to get at this time’s exact outcomes.
There’s comparable within the navigational devices room, the place you could find out extra concerning the other ways individuals used to navigate, together with by the constellations, with compasses and astrolabes among the many gadgets on show.
Cease in to see the Solebay tapestries whilst you’re right here too – one other room that’s extra fascinating for older children.
Commissioned by King Charles II and designed by the artist Willem van de Velde the Elder, the tapestries depict the Battle of Solebay in 1672 simply off the Suffolk coast of the UK – one is stored within the Maritime Museum at Greenwich in London as nicely.
One of many largest naval battles of the Age of Sail, the Dutch fleet had over 100 warships and 20,000 crew, whereas the Anglo-French fleet had round 93 warships, and as many as 40,000 males.
Regardless of heavy preventing all day and losses on either side, there was no clear victory (though, after all, either side claimed that they had gained!)
Whereas it’s nicely price exploring the entire museum – you by no means know what would possibly catch your children’ consideration, after the Amsterdam ship, the very best part for households is the West wing although.
Walvis, the story of the whale, manages the tough steadiness of being enjoyable sufficient for youthful children and fascinating sufficient for older ones because it appears on the means attitudes have modified from seeing whales as monsters of the deep to money-makers to protected mammals.
In the event you do have delicate children, there are tales of whaling which may very well be upsetting (it’s really useful for age 6+) however a lot to offer a rounded image, together with movies that you simply wake by touching photos, such because the widow of the proprietor of a whaling agency explaining why she was persevering with his work.
There are additionally ossicles to have a look at, elements of whale ears which allow them to listen to the songs of different whales from distant, in addition to enjoyable data boards to assist children visualise simply how huge the large blue whale actually is.
Plus extra interactive enjoyable, together with the prospect to play inside a whale.
Close by, you could find the Doris the Diver part for teenagers aged 2+ – mainly a themed play house, but it surely’s an important possibility for a break when you’re visiting the Amsterdam Maritime Museum with youthful children.
I didn’t take any photographs inside because it was filled with little ones having a good time (and my 13-year-old is unquestionably too grown up for that now!), but it surely’s positively a cute nook of the museum.
For extra concepts of issues to do in Amsterdam with toddlers, take a look at my prime picks
The ultimate part right here appears at Amsterdam’s historical past as a port metropolis and the way it has advanced over time.
You may sniff among the port’s smells, from coal and wooden to cacao, in addition to studying extra concerning the canals connecting the modern-day metropolis to the ocean, or trying out the historic instruments which might as soon as have been used day by day.
It’s simple to grasp how one can spend hours exploring this sprawling museum’s everlasting reveals alone – there are round 400,000 objects within the assortment.
However do save a while for the non permanent exhibitions, particularly when you’re visiting with older children and youths.
Shadows on the Atlantic was a extra in-depth have a look at how colonial violence was intertwined with the nation’s maritime historical past, mixing information and particular person gadgets with tales of these whose ancestors had been enslaved, in addition to music and artwork.
One other, referred to as Watership, checked out artefacts recovered from a wreck uncovered close to town and displayed as when you have been strolling by the ship itself, whereas a brand new exhibition targeted on Japan opened shortly after our go to to Amsterdam.
One other favorite for anybody who loves trend and design (or simply vibrant and fantastic outfits) was Oceanista – Style & Sea.
how nautical and maritime clothes has influenced trend, from Breton stripes to extra creative designer outfits, it additionally confirmed how exploration and commerce influenced fashion, with clothes utilizing materials imported from Asia.
However you would additionally study how particular person designs of fishermen’s jumpers confirmed which village they got here from, in addition to eyeing up sneakers with whales for heels.
And as with a lot of a go to to the Amsterdam Maritime Museum with children, you will get palms on right here too, designing your personal outfits or just being impressed to be inventive.
For me, that’s actually probably the greatest elements of a go to to Amsterdam’s Maritime Museum with children, how there’s one thing which is designed to attraction to everybody.
In case your children simply wish to get palms on, the Amsterdam ship and the interactive components are excellent. Bought older children who’re extra excited by historical past, expertise or tempted by the non permanent exhibitions like Oceanista? You’ll discover loads of methods to find in additional depth right here too.
For extra of the very best issues to do in Amsterdam with children, take a look at my prime picks
Amsterdam Maritime Museum with children: have to know
Tickets price 20 Euros for adults, 8,50 Euros for youngsters aged 5-17 and it’s free for age 4 and beneath. You should buy tickets on arrival (card funds solely) or prebook which lets you flip up at any level in the course of the day.
You may also purchase skip-the-line tickets with free cancellation, or entry is included with the I Amsterdam metropolis card.
Do enable at the least two hours to discover – guests can simply spend longer. There’s a free audio information, together with a junior audio information which you’ll be able to obtain to your telephone or get a tool and headphones on the data desk.
Throughout college holidays, there are common additional actions for households happening.
The museum has a restaurant within the courtyard with free colouring sheets, in addition to bathrooms dotted round; there’s a household restroom within the basement and one other by the Doris the Diver exhibition (themed to match!).
Buggies/strollers are allowed within the museum, with lifts between flooring. You may’t use again carriers, though there are strollers to borrow.
The Maritime Museum is within the Oosterdok space, barely out of the centre. Bus route 22 stops very near the museum, and runs by way of Amsterdam Central Station bus station (simply subsequent to the prepare station).
Discover extra suggestions right here on how you can get round Amsterdam with children, together with the completely different ticket/fee choices obtainable.
Disclosure: This publish incorporates affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I’ll obtain a small fee
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