The Dutch
have a long and varied relationship with the sea from reclaiming land from it
and building dykes against it, to fighting wars, trade and living peacefully on
it.
The
Noordelijk Scheepvaartmuseum is the perfect place for the maritime enthusiast with
the history of shipping and the shipbuilding industry. The collection dates
from the Middle Ages up until the present day.
This year
the museum celebrates its 75-th anniversary since its opening in 1930 and
was the initiative of a group of gentlemen who found it important that the rich
and varied past of shipping in the north should remain here with all its
maritime curiosa, documents, models, and cultural inheritance and not disappear
to the west of the land. Over the years the maritime museum was to be found on
various premises, starting with the Goudkantoor (Gold Office), now a
café-restaurant, up until its present premises in two 15 century
buildings in the Brugstraat.
In the same
building complex one can also find the Niemeyer Tabaksmuseum (Niemeyer tobacco
museum) where one can learn all about the history of smoking and see one of the
largest collections of smoking paraphernalia in the world.
At the time of writing, 11.00 am Tuesdays and Saturdays it is possible to take a guided tour round the
museum for only the price of the admission, as long as you tell them several
days in advance. They have diverse activities for children during term time and
the holidays as well as being suitable for school trips and children’s parties.
The museum
shop has a large selection of maritime souvenirs, model boats, and books, as
well as a delicatessen selling candy, honey, fruit marmalades, ginger and
marzipan all made according to traditional old recipes.
The museum can be found just off the Vismarkt (Fish market) behind the A-Kerk (A-church).
Brugstraat 24, 9711 HZ Groningen.
For
more information about group the
museum’s
website can be found here
©
Alison Day
First
published in the Connections magazine #9 July 2005
