Located along the Wijnhaven, the Marines Museum has been sharing the story of the Dutch Marine Corps since December 1995. This elite branch of the Royal Navy was founded on December 10, 1665, at the initiative of Johan de Witt and Michiel de Ruyter. Marines, often called “sea soldiers,” operate between land and sea—across the globe, as their motto says: "Qua patet orbis" ("As far as the world extends").
The museum takes visitors through more than three centuries of marine history, from early operations to the end of the Cold War. The permanent exhibition “Sea Soldiers” gives insight into their training, missions, and daily life. Current deployments are also featured.
A powerful section focuses on the days of May 1940. Through interactive displays, visitors learn about the defense of Rotterdam, where marines played a vital role before the devastating bombing on May 14.
Sources. Story: Source Story: Photos: Source Photo: Bic (Wikimedia Commons), CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
