Rotterdam’s excellent Maritime Museum is devoted to maritime culture and contains ancient artifacts relating to the journeys of some of Europe’s earliest sailors. Marvel at the intricate detailing of the oldest model ship in Europe, study rare travel journals from years gone by and learn about the adventures of early mariners.
The museum was opened in 1874 and is now home to a compelling collection of more than 850,000 artifacts. Don’t miss the museum’s star attraction: the Mataró. The oldest model ship in Europe, the Mataró was built during the 15th century and presented as a gift to a chapel in the Spanish town of the same name. The model is 48 inches (121 centimeters) long and its exquisite detail has led to it being used for naval architecture research as well as a guide to determining engineering elements of ships from as early as the 1400s.
Find the fascinating itinerary of the early maritime pioneer Jan Huygen van Linschoten in the masterpieces room. This travel journal was used to record the secrets of the great Portuguese sailors and is one of the most significant documents of its kind in the world. Among the other highlights is the chart produced by master cartographer Joan Blaeu. Compare his calculations to the shapes of countries as we now know them and marvel at how accurately the explorers of old worked out their routes with just the stars to guide them.
Make your way to the MainPort Live display to view a scale model of Rotterdam Port. Video clips of old ships making their way down the river and out to sea bring the display to life. Children will love the Professor Splash exhibit that can be found in the outdoor courtyard. Activities include helping the professor and his crew to load the ship and learning about Rotterdam’s maritime history.
The Maritime Museum is located by the water in the heart of the city. It is open daily during school vacation periods. At other times of the year it is closed on Mondays and on public holidays. There is an admission fee. Ask at the museum or any information center around Rotterdam about upcoming exhibitions.
