Ahoy There!

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

First published in the Connections magazine #9 July 2005

View all issues of Connections HERE (editor, designer, illustrator: 2006-2013)

©  Alison Day Designs