V.O.C Ship Amsterdam

The Netherlands Maritime Museum in Amsterdam is the treasure of Dutch Naval history. The museum is housed in " 's Lands Zeemagazyn" (The country's former powder storage), built by order of the Amsterdam Admirality in 1556. Originally this was a navy depot. The museum's collection covers the whole range of Dutch maritime history; model ships, paintings, drawings, globes and other objects. It reflects life on the water throughout the centuries. Topics include the Dutch East India Company (The V.O.C.), whaling, inland waterways and the age of steam engines. Showpiece of the museum is a replica of East India man "Amsterdam", docked at the museum's pier since 1990 alongside the steamer "Christiaan Brunings, the lugger "Balder" and the lifeboat "Insulinde". The original Amsterdam left on its maiden voyage to Asia in 1748 but it never arrived, stranding on the English shore near Hastings. The ship now docked outside the Maritime Museum is a replica of the Amsterdam, it took six years to build, from 1985 until 1991. From the ship you will have a fairy-like view on the illuminated houses, harbour and Maritime museum.