150 years of Maritime Museum Rotterdam: more than just ships

The Maritime Museum has existed for 150 years, and over those years, a treasure trove of maritime objects and stories has been collected. We want everyone to enjoy this treasure and learn about what it was like then, what it is like now, and what the dreams and predictions are for the future. Why are ships able to sail so fast and economically? Was it always like that? How much grain fits in an inland waterway vessel, and how many packages in a modern container? How do you tie a real sailor's knot, and how is that rope made? We conclude the summer with the Maritime Festival. The museum program in the Maritime Museum Harbour during the World Port Days on September 7 and 8, 2024.

Maritime Museum Rotterdam

The Maritime Museum Rotterdam is a shipping and port museum in the center of the South Holland city of Rotterdam. Previously, the museum was known as the Maritime Museum Prins Hendrik. Since September 2014, the Maritime Museum has merged with the adjacent Port Museum. A large collection of historical ships and transshipment equipment is located in the Maritime Museum Port.

The museum was founded in 1874 around the collection of ship models of the Royal Netherlands Yacht Club, of which Prince Hendrik, known as the Dutch Henry the Navigator (1820-1879), was chairman. Prince Hendrik, the brother of King William III, was a great champion of the Netherlands as a maritime nation and was therefore called 'The Navigator'. The foundation of the model collection was laid in 1852. After the dissolution of the Yacht Club in 1882, the Municipality of Rotterdam became the owner of the collection in 1885.

Until 1948, the museum was housed in the former clubhouse of the Royal Netherlands Yacht Club. The Museum of Geography and Ethnology, now the World Museum Rotterdam, was also located in this building. From 1948 to 1979, the Prins Hendrik Maritime Museum was situated at Burgemeester s'Jacobplein. This building was later demolished due to the construction of Metro Line A and the underground Dijkzigt metro station. From 1979, the museum was housed in an office building on Scheepmakershaven, until it moved into its new and current building in 1986. Leuvehaven involves. On January 1, 2006, the museum became independent; until that moment, it was a municipal museum. In 2014, the museum merged with the adjacent Harbour Museum. End your summer with a bang at the Maritime Festival on September 7 and 8. Three maritime photo exhibitions are already on display starting September 5, and there is plenty to see in the harbor all week with arriving guest ships and participating organizations. The Maritime Festival, during the World Port Days, is packed with maritime activities. Step aboard and discover the maritime world of the past, present, and future. There is also plenty happening in the museum harbor in the week leading up to the World Port Days. Dining tip at the museum restaurant. A delicious Apple pie for only 1,50 euros (due to the 150th anniversary) and while stocks last.  

<strong> More info: </strong>

Maritime Museum Rotterdam: https://maritiemmuseum.nl/ Maritime Festival on 7 and 8 September 2024: https://maritiemmuseum.nl/activiteiten/maritiem-festival World Port Days on 6, 7 and 8 September 2024: https://wereldhavendagen.nl/ Ship models (2015) stamps: https://www.postzegelblog.nl/2015/10/04/bouwresultaten-van-scheepsmodellen-door-de-eeuwen-heen/