It’s straightforward 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 youngsters goes to indicate, this must be on each household’s record.
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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 youngsters love tales of journey – nicely, who doesn’t fancy imagining themselves on deck looking for out new worlds?
And the Nationwide Maritime Museum (Het Scheepvaartmuseum) is splendidly interactive, particularly the full-scale duplicate 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 fantastic Seventeenth-century naval storehouse on the waterfront, the museum tells the story of the Netherlands’ maritime historical past via a sequence of everlasting and non permanent exhibitions.
However it’s removed from being a dusty assortment of outdated nautical devices – you’ll discover lots for all ages, from a bit on early maps and the fashionable expertise concerned as we speak to Amsterdam’s port heritage, but in addition the beautiful 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 observe, and loads of probabilities to get fingers 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 via town and a complete lot extra.
The museum itself is split into three 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,
With the ability to board this duplicate 18th-century Dutch East India Firm ship is well the massive spotlight of a go to, letting youngsters discover beneath deck, climb round, and picture life as a sailor.
However it additionally encourages guests to take 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 might ever be constructed as we speak, given altering attitudes to colonial historical past.
When 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, exhibiting life as it could 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, no less than) and crates are piled able to discover within the maintain.
In truth, this a part of the maintain is designed to be a climbing space for youths aged 4-12, making it very a lot a contact, don’t simply look area.
In case you don’t fancy scrambling over barrels (or are a bit too outdated to strive!), there are a complete string of different interactive parts.
Pull on the ropes to see should you can raise 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’ll be able to choose up for a pound in your native grocery store as we speak.
For older youngsters, there’s one other show on the VOC itself – the Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie, or Dutch East India Firm. One of many first joint inventory firms 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 seemed round downstairs, there’s lots extra to see upstairs, as you peek into or wander inside a number of the cabins.
There’s an opportunity to see what the surgeon on board may need needed to deal with the crew, in addition to the extra luxurious captain’s quarters with their very own personal bathroom. Youngsters can be of their factor with a number of 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, looking to Nemo Science Centre throughout the water, and again in direction of the museum itself. Plus some helpful info boards on a number of the extra grotesque facets of life at sea…. not least the realities of what occurs while you don’t have bathroom paper!
Whereas the Amsterdam is well 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 alternative dock, though you’ll be able to’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.
When you can’t board the barge itself, you’ll be able to rise up near admire the gilded particulars, and there are some screens to present extra info (sadly most weren’t working throughout my go to, though you’ll be able to hearken to the audio information). Realistically, that is extra of a fast cease to ooh and aaah.
When you’ve explored the ships open air, it’s time to move again indoors. The non permanent exhibitions are within the wing subsequent to the ships, together with the primary 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 the whole lot 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’ll be able to cherry-pick your approach round, with fashions and cannon to identify too.
Or head over to the east wing, the place you’ll discover a complete room full of extra ship fashions – there’s a enjoyable slider which brings the fashions just about to life (though they weren’t all working both, so that you may 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 numerous uniforms and outfits.
For older youngsters, the 2 rooms devoted to charting the ocean and a separate one on navigational devices are fascinating.
You’ve obtained historic maps from the times when the world was nonetheless being explored, via to the small print of modern-day map making, and the expertise used to get as we speak’s exact outcomes.
There’s related within the navigational devices room, the place yow will discover out extra concerning the alternative 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 youngsters.
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 each side, there was no clear victory (though, after all, each side claimed that they had received!)
Whereas it’s nicely price exploring the entire museum – you by no means know what may catch your youngsters’ consideration, after the Amsterdam ship, the perfect part for households is the West wing although.
Walvis, the story of the whale, manages the tough stability of being enjoyable sufficient for youthful youngsters and fascinating sufficient for older ones because it seems to be on the approach attitudes have modified from seeing whales as monsters of the deep to money-makers to protected mammals.
In case you do have delicate youngsters, there are tales of whaling which might be upsetting (it’s really useful for age 6+) however lots to present 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 take a look at, components of whale ears which allow them to listen to the songs of different whales from far-off, in addition to enjoyable info boards to assist youngsters visualise simply how large the large blue whale actually is.
Plus extra interactive enjoyable, together with the prospect to play inside a whale.
Close by, yow will discover the Doris the Diver part for youths aged 2+ – principally a themed play area, nevertheless it’s an excellent possibility for a break should you’re visiting the Amsterdam Maritime Museum with youthful youngsters.
I didn’t take any pictures 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!), nevertheless it’s undoubtedly a cute nook of the museum.
For extra concepts of issues to do in Amsterdam with toddlers, take a look at my high picks
The ultimate part right here seems to be at Amsterdam’s historical past as a port metropolis and the way it has advanced over time.
You may sniff a number of 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 testing the historic instruments which might as soon as have been used each day.
It’s straightforward to grasp how one can spend hours exploring this sprawling museum’s everlasting displays alone – there are round 400,000 objects within the assortment.
However do save a while for the non permanent exhibitions, particularly should you’re visiting with older youngsters and teenagers.
Shadows on the Atlantic was a extra in-depth take a look at how colonial violence was intertwined with the nation’s maritime historical past, mixing details and particular person gadgets with tales of these whose ancestors had been enslaved, in addition to music and artwork.
One other, known as Watership, checked out artefacts recovered from a wreck uncovered close to town and displayed as should you have been strolling via 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 vogue and design (or simply vibrant and great outfits) was Oceanista – Trend & Sea.
how nautical and maritime clothes has influenced vogue, from Breton stripes to extra ingenious 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 youngsters, you may get fingers on right here too, designing your personal outfits or just being impressed to be artistic.
For me, that’s actually among the best components of a go to to Amsterdam’s Maritime Museum with youngsters, how there’s one thing which is designed to enchantment to everybody.
In case your youngsters simply need to get fingers on, the Amsterdam ship and the interactive parts are excellent. Acquired older youngsters who’re extra thinking about 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 perfect issues to do in Amsterdam with youngsters, take a look at my high picks
Amsterdam Maritime Museum with youngsters: must know
Tickets price 20 Euros for adults, 8,50 Euros for youngsters aged 5-17 and it’s free for age 4 and below. You should purchase tickets on arrival (card funds solely) or prebook which lets you flip up at any level through the day.
You can even purchase skip-the-line tickets with free cancellation, or entry is included with the I Amsterdam metropolis card.
Do enable no less than 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 info desk.
Throughout college holidays, there are common further actions for households happening.
The museum has a restaurant within the courtyard with free colouring sheets, in addition to bogs 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 youngsters, together with the completely different ticket/cost choices obtainable.
Disclosure: This put up incorporates affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I could obtain a small fee
Photos copyright MummyTravels
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