Maritime Museum Rotterdam

At the heart of the city, the Maritime Museum brings six centuries of seafaring to life. Since merging with the Harbour Museum in 2014, it holds an extraordinary collection of over 850,000 items—from prehistoric dugout canoes to cutting-edge offshore technology—showing how deeply maritime history is woven into daily life.

The museum’s roots go back to 1874, built around the ship model collection of the Royal Dutch Yacht Club. Its chairman, Prince Hendrik (brother of King William III), was a passionate advocate for the sea, believing firmly in the Netherlands as a maritime power.

Among the highlights is the Mataró model from around 1425, Europe’s oldest known ship model. Another treasure is the “Itinerario” by Jan Huygen van Linschoten, a famous travel account revealing the secret sea routes once guarded by the Portuguese.

Outside, the museum’s harbour features historic ships, cranes, and even a lighthouse—all in working condition.