Review: Amsterdam Maritime Museum with kids
It’s easy to think that a museum about seafaring and ships might not be the most child-friendly – but as my review of the Amsterdam Maritime Museum with kids goes to show, this should be on every family’s list.
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Because with the Dutch once in the forefront of exploring the globe, learning more about the seafarers of the Golden Age is perfect if your kids love tales of adventure – well, who doesn’t fancy imagining themselves on deck seeking out new worlds?
And the National Maritime Museum (Het Scheepvaartmuseum) is wonderfully interactive, especially the full-scale replica of the Dutch East India Company ship Amsterdam, one of the highlights for families. But whether you’re visiting Amsterdam with toddlers or teens, there’s something to discover.
Housed in a beautiful 17th-century naval storehouse on the waterfront, the museum tells the story of the Netherlands’ maritime history through a series of permanent and temporary exhibitions.
But it’s far from being a dusty collection of old nautical instruments – you’ll find plenty for all ages, from a section on early maps and the modern technology involved today to Amsterdam’s port heritage, but also the lovely Doris the Diver play area aimed age 2+, not to mention a section on whales (for 6+).
With a 60-minute junior audio guide to follow, and plenty of chances to get hands on, you could find yourself doing anything from pretending to load cargo, fire a cannon, spotting weird and wonderful figureheads, learning about whale ears, smelling spices which once travelled through the city and a whole lot more.
The museum itself is divided into three main areas – north, east and west, with the different wings set around a courtyard. I’d suggest starting with with north area, and heading outside to the three vessels moored out the back, especially the Amsterdam,
Being able to board this replica 18th-century Dutch East India Company ship is easily the big highlight of a visit, letting kids explore below deck, climb around, and imagine life as a sailor.
But it also encourages visitors to look at the country’s colonial past and its darker chapters, as well as raising questions about whether a replica like this would ever be built today, given changing attitudes to colonial history.
While you ponder that, there’s a chance to immerse yourself in the Amsterdam of centuries gone by, with a video whisking you around the harbour and canals, showing life as it would have been – from ship-building, to tearful farewells on the dock as sailors set off.
But then you’ll spend a large chunk of your visit exploring around the ship, where cannon sit ready to fire (in your imagination, at least) and crates are piled ready to explore in the hold.
In fact, this part of the hold is designed to be a climbing area for kids aged 4-12, making it very much a touch, don’t just look space.
If you don’t fancy scrambling over barrels (or are a bit too old to try!), there are a whole string of other interactive elements.
Pull on the ropes to see if you can lift one of the heavy crates, for example, or open another to get a scent of the spices which drove Dutch exploration and colonisation, a vastly lucrative trade in items you can pick up for a pound in your local supermarket today.
For older kids, there’s another display on the VOC itself – the Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie, or Dutch East India Company. One of the first joint stock companies in the world, the displays don’t shy away from the ruthlessness behind the trade in spices, including the numbers enslaved and events like the Banda massacre.
Once you’ve looked around downstairs, there’s plenty more to see upstairs, as you peek into or wander inside some of the cabins.
There’s a chance to see what the surgeon on board might have had to treat the crew, as well as the more luxurious captain’s quarters with their own private toilet. Kids will be in their element with some of the low ceilings where adults are practically bent double.
Or enjoy the table set up for officers to dine, with a huge round orange-waxed cheese on the table alongside pots, glassware and loaves of bread.
There are some fantastic views from the deck as well, looking out to Nemo Science Centre across the water, and back towards the museum itself. Plus some handy information boards on some of the more gruesome aspects of life at sea…. not least the realities of what happens when you don’t have toilet paper!
While the Amsterdam is easily the most interesting ship to explore, it’s not the only one. The icebreaker SS Christiaan Brunnings, which was built in 1904, sits on the opposite dock, although you can’t currently board that.
And next door, the lavish royal barge, commissioned by King William I and built between 1816 and 1818. First used by King WIlliam II in 1841, its last official outing was in 1962 for the silver wedding anniversary celebrations of Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard.
While you can’t board the barge itself, you can get up close to admire the gilded details, and there are some screens to give more information (sadly most weren’t working during my visit, although you can listen to the audio guide). Realistically, this is more of a quick stop to ooh and aaah.
Once you’ve explored the ships outdoors, it’s time to head back indoors. The temporary exhibitions are in the wing next to the ships, along with the main gallery Republic at Sea.
Or you’ll find other permanent collections in the east wing, and more interactive exhibitions and family-friendly options in the west section.
Republic At Sea uses 50 artworks and other artefacts to tell the story of how the Netherlands became a maritime nation, with everything from individual stories to paintings of battles along the way.
You’ll need the audio guide to understand what’s been included and why (with a children’s audioguide available) so it’s all a bit slower after the hands-on fun of being on board, but you can cherry-pick your way around, with models and cannon to spot too.
Or head over to the east wing, where you’ll find a whole room packed with more ship models – there’s a fun slider which brings the models virtually to life (although they weren’t all working either, so you might have to wait a bit to get one).
And elsewhere, a string of ship decorations featuring animal faces – including these fantastic lions – alongside a string of figureheads, both male and female in various uniforms and outfits.
For older kids, the two rooms dedicated to charting the sea and a separate one on navigational instruments are fascinating.
You’ve got historic maps from the days when the world was still being explored, through to the details of modern-day map making, and the technology used to get today’s precise results.
There’s similar in the navigational instruments room, where you can find out more about the different ways people used to navigate, including by the constellations, with compasses and astrolabes among the items on display.
Stop in to see the Solebay tapestries while you’re here too – another room that’s more interesting for older kids.
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 just off the Suffolk coast of the UK – one is kept in the Maritime Museum at Greenwich in London as well.
One of the largest naval battles of the Age of Sail, the Dutch fleet had over 100 warships and 20,000 crew, while the Anglo-French fleet had around 93 warships, and as many as 40,000 men.
Despite heavy fighting all day and losses on both sides, there was no clear victory (although, of course, both sides claimed they had won!)
While it’s well worth exploring the whole museum – you never know what might catch your kids’ attention, after the Amsterdam ship, the best section for families is the West wing though.
Walvis, the tale of the whale, manages the tricky balance of being fun enough for younger kids and interesting enough for older ones as it looks at the way attitudes have changed from seeing whales as monsters of the deep to money-makers to protected mammals.
If you do have sensitive kids, there are stories of whaling which could be upsetting (it’s recommended for age 6+) but plenty to give a rounded picture, including videos that you wake by touching pictures, such as the widow of the owner of a whaling firm explaining why she was continuing his work.
There are also ossicles to look at, parts of whale ears which enable them to hear the songs of other whales from far away, as well as fun information boards to help kids visualise just how big the huge blue whale really is.
Plus more interactive fun, including the chance to play inside a whale.
Nearby, you can find the Doris the Diver section for kids aged 2+ – basically a themed play space, but it’s a great option for a break if you’re visiting the Amsterdam Maritime Museum with younger kids.
I didn’t take any photos inside as it was full of little ones having a great time (and my 13-year-old is definitely too grown up for that now!), but it’s definitely a cute corner of the museum.
For more ideas of things to do in Amsterdam with toddlers, check out my top picks
The final section here looks at Amsterdam’s history as a port city and how it has evolved over the years.
You can sniff some of the port’s smells, from coal and wood to cacao, as well as learning more about the canals connecting the modern-day city to the sea, or checking out the historic tools which would once have been used every day.
It’s easy to understand how you can spend hours exploring this sprawling museum’s permanent exhibits alone – there are around 400,000 objects in the collection.
But do save some time for the temporary exhibitions, especially if you’re visiting with older kids and teens.
Shadows on the Atlantic was a more in-depth look at how colonial violence was intertwined with the country’s maritime history, mixing facts and individual items with stories of those whose ancestors had been enslaved, as well as music and art.
Another, called Watership, looked at artefacts recovered from a wreck uncovered near the city and displayed as if you were walking through the ship itself, while a new exhibition focused on Japan opened shortly after our visit to Amsterdam.
Another favourite for anyone who loves fashion and design (or just colourful and wonderful outfits) was Oceanista – Fashion & Sea.
Looking at how nautical and maritime clothing has influenced fashion, from Breton stripes to more inventive designer outfits, it also showed how exploration and trade influenced style, with dresses using fabrics imported from Asia.
But you could also learn about how individual designs of fishermen’s jumpers showed which village they came from, as well as eyeing up shoes with whales for heels.
And as with much of a visit to the Amsterdam Maritime Museum with kids, you can get hands on here too, designing your own outfits or simply being inspired to be creative.
For me, that’s really one of the best parts of a visit to Amsterdam’s Maritime Museum with kids, how there’s something which is designed to appeal to everyone.
If your kids just want to get hands on, the Amsterdam ship and the interactive elements are perfect. Got older kids who are more interested in history, technology or tempted by the temporary exhibitions like Oceanista? You’ll find plenty of ways to discover in more depth here too.
For more of the best things to do in Amsterdam with kids, check out my top picks
Amsterdam Maritime Museum with kids: need to know
Tickets cost 20 Euros for adults, 8,50 Euros for children aged 5-17 and it’s free for age 4 and under. You can buy tickets on arrival (card payments only) or prebook which allows you to turn up at any point during the day.
You can also buy skip-the-line tickets with free cancellation, or entry is included with the I Amsterdam city card.
Do allow at least two hours to explore – visitors can easily spend longer. There’s a free audio guide, including a junior audio guide which you can download to your phone or get a device and headphones at the information desk.
During school holidays, there are regular extra activities for families taking place.
The museum has a cafe in the courtyard with free colouring sheets, as well as toilets dotted around; there’s a family restroom in the basement and another by the Doris the Diver exhibition (themed to match!).
Buggies/strollers are allowed in the museum, with lifts between floors. You can’t use back carriers, although there are strollers to borrow.
The Maritime Museum is in the Oosterdok area, slightly out of the centre. Bus route 22 stops very close to the museum, and runs via Amsterdam Central Station bus station (just next to the train station).
Find more tips here on how to get around Amsterdam with kids, including the different ticket/payment options available.
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