- On September 1, 2026
- Bezienswaardigheden
The Scheepvaartmuseum rewards anyone curious about how a small country ran the seas, yet it slips off most Amsterdam itineraries. That is a shame. Skip it and you miss a full-scale East India ship you can actually climb aboard, plus five centuries of maps and models. Below I will walk you through what to see, what it costs, and how to reach it without fuss.
I have sent friends here on grey afternoons and every one of them came back surprised at how much fun it was. So let me set the scene properly.
A naval storehouse that became a museum
The building itself is half the story. Het Scheepvaartmuseum lives inside ‘s Lands Zeemagazijn, the old Admiralty naval storehouse on the Oosterdok in Amsterdam’s eastern harbour. City architect Daniel Stalpaert designed this monumental square block, and it was finished back in 1656. For centuries it held the rope, rigging, weapons and provisions that kept the Amsterdam Admiralty’s fleet at sea.
Stand in the middle of it today and you feel that weight of history, but you also stand under something modern and lovely. A major restoration ran from 2007 to 2011, and the museum reopened on 2 October 2011. The signature touch is the inner courtyard, now roofed in glass and steel. The pattern overhead is drawn from the compass rose and the rhumb lines of old nautical charts, so the light falls through it in these long radiating spokes. It is the first thing that makes people reach for a camera.
The collection is genuinely one of the largest maritime hoards in the world: paintings, ship models, navigation instruments, globes, weapons and atlases covering roughly 500 years of Dutch seafaring. You do not need to be a naval buff to enjoy it, though you may leave as one.
Climbing aboard the VOC ship Amsterdam
If you only do one thing here, make it the ship. Moored at the museum’s own jetty is a full-scale replica of the VOC East Indiaman Amsterdam. The original was a Dutch East India Company vessel that wrecked on its maiden voyage to Asia in 1749, and this recreation was built by volunteers in Amsterdam between 1985 and 1990. It has sat beside the museum since 1991, and the good news is that it is included in your ticket.
You can walk the decks, duck into the captain’s cabin, peer down into the hold and even lie in the sailors’ cramped hammocks. Kids love this part, and honestly so do most adults. It is one thing to read about how thousands of men crossed to Asia in wooden ships; it is another to stand on the planking and realise how little room they had. This is one of the more hands-on things to do in Amsterdam, and it is why I rate the Scheepvaartmuseum so highly for anyone travelling with restless teenagers.
What to see inside the Scheepvaartmuseum
Back indoors, the highlights come thick and fast. The Main Gallery gives you the sweep of Dutch maritime power. The ornate Royal Barge, built for King William I, is a jaw-dropper of gilded carving. And for anyone who loves old cartography, the displays of historic maps, globes and navigational instruments are a treat, including work by the great Amsterdam mapmakers Willem and Joan Blaeu.
Wandering the galleries, you start to see how navigation, trade, art and warfare all tangled together in the Dutch Golden Age. If that period grabs you, it pairs beautifully with a trip to the Rijksmuseum on another day, where many of the same stories hang on the walls as paintings.
Visiting the Scheepvaartmuseum with kids
This is a museum that actually likes children, which is rarer than it should be. Beyond climbing the ship, there are several interactive and children’s exhibitions built for young visitors. “Doris the Diver” is aimed at little ones from around age two and up. “The Tale of the Whale” and “My Expo” give slightly older kids their own things to poke at and play with. There is also a “Dare to Discover” VR experience that drops you into 17th-century Amsterdam, which teens tend to queue up for.
Because the ship, the VR and the children’s zones all add time, families can happily stretch a visit far longer than they expect. Bring a bit of patience and let the kids set the pace.
Tickets, prices and the I amsterdam City Card
Let me be upfront: prices here have crept up over the years, and different websites still quote different numbers, so treat everything below as a guide and check the official site before you go. As a rough picture, the museum currently lists adult tickets (18 and over) at around 20 euros, children aged 5 to 17 at around 8.50 euros, and children of four and under free. Some older third-party resellers still show lower legacy prices, so do not be thrown if you see figures nearer 15 to 18.50 euros floating about. Booking online can typically save you about a euro.
| Visitor | Approximate price (verify on official site) |
|---|---|
| Adult (18+) | Around 20 euros |
| Child (5-17) | Around 8.50 euros |
| Child (4 and under) | Free |
| I amsterdam City Card / Museumkaart / ICOM / Rembrandt Society | Included, no extra charge |
That last row matters. Admission is free for holders of the I amsterdam City Card, the Dutch Museumkaart, ICOM cards and Rembrandt Society members. If you already carry one of those, the Scheepvaartmuseum costs you nothing on the day. The ship is still included too.
Openingstijden
Plan around the hours, because they trip people up. The official site lists the museum open daily, Monday through Sunday, from roughly 10:00 to 17:00. You may still stumble on older pages quoting a 09:00 opening, so trust the current official time of around 10:00 and confirm it yourself the week you visit. The museum is closed on 1 January, 25 December and 27 April, which is King’s Day. Those closures are worth double-checking if your trip lands near a public holiday.
How to get to the Scheepvaartmuseum
Getting here is easy and, frankly, part of the pleasure. The museum sits on the Oosterdok among Amsterdam’s eastern islands, roughly a 19 to 22 minute walk east of Amsterdam Centraal along the Oosterdokskade, about 1.5 kilometres. On a bike you will do it in around five minutes. The waterside stroll takes you past the working harbour, which puts you in the right mood before you arrive.
One handy landmark: the Scheepvaartmuseum stands very close to the NEMO Science Museum, that big green tilted-roof building you cannot miss. In fact, one of the signposted walking routes from Centraal leads you right past NEMO on the way. The two are separate museums with separate tickets, but they make a natural pair for a family day out on this side of the water.
Is the Scheepvaartmuseum worth visiting?
For my money, yes, and comfortably so. A typical visit runs about 1.5 to 2.5 hours, while maritime-history fans and families with young kids can easily fill 3 to 4 hours once you factor in the ship, the VR and the children’s exhibits. It is engaging without being exhausting, it stays enjoyable in the rain, and it tells the story that explains why Amsterdam looks and feels the way it does. Add it to your list of things to do in Amsterdam and I doubt you will regret it.
Veelgestelde vragen
How much does it cost to visit Het Scheepvaartmuseum?
As a rough guide, adult tickets run around 20 euros, children aged 5 to 17 around 8.50 euros, and children of four and under go free. Prices have risen over time and vary between the official site and older resellers, so always check the official website for the current amount before you book. Booking online can typically save about a euro.
What are the opening hours of the Scheepvaartmuseum in Amsterdam?
The official site lists the museum open daily, roughly 10:00 to 17:00. Some older pages still show a 09:00 opening, so treat around 10:00 as the current time and confirm it yourself. The museum is closed on 1 January, 25 December and 27 April (King’s Day).
Is the VOC ship Amsterdam included in the Scheepvaartmuseum ticket?
Yes. The full-scale replica of the VOC East Indiaman Amsterdam is moored at the museum’s own jetty and is included in your museum ticket. You can climb aboard, explore the decks, the captain’s cabin and the hold, and see the sailors’ hammocks.
How long do you need at the National Maritime Museum Amsterdam?
A typical visit takes about 1.5 to 2.5 hours. Maritime-history enthusiasts and families can easily spend 3 to 4 hours once you add the ship, the VR experience and the children’s exhibitions to your route.
Is Het Scheepvaartmuseum good for kids and families?
Very much so. Children can climb the replica ship and lie in the hammocks, and there are dedicated exhibitions such as Doris the Diver (aimed at children around age two and up), The Tale of the Whale and My Expo, plus a Dare to Discover VR experience of 17th-century Amsterdam.
Is the Scheepvaartmuseum free with the I amsterdam City Card?
Yes. Entry is included for holders of the I amsterdam City Card, and also for the Dutch Museumkaart, ICOM cards and Rembrandt Society members. Children of four and under are free as well. Check the current terms of your card before visiting.
How do you get to Het Scheepvaartmuseum from Amsterdam Centraal?
It is roughly a 19 to 22 minute walk east of Amsterdam Centraal along the Oosterdokskade, about 1.5 kilometres, or around five minutes by bike. The address is Kattenburgerplein 1 on the Oosterdok, and one signposted walking route passes the NEMO Science Museum on the way.
Is the Scheepvaartmuseum the same as NEMO?
No. They are two different museums that happen to sit close together on the Oosterdok. NEMO is the science museum in the large green tilted-roof building, while the Scheepvaartmuseum is the maritime museum in the old naval storehouse. Each needs its own ticket, but they pair well for a day out.