Amsterdam
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Explore the Historic VOC Ship Amsterdam Replica at the National Maritime Museum

Step aboard to experience 17th and 18th-century maritime life and Dutch East India Company trade history.

Immerse yourself in maritime history by visiting the VOC Ship Amsterdam, a meticulously crafted replica at the National Maritime Museum. This detailed reconstruction offers insights into 17th and 18th-century seafaring life and the extensive trade routes of the Dutch East India Company. Explore its decks to understand daily life aboard and reflect on its historical context.

About VOC Ship Amsterdam at National Maritime Museum in Amsterdam

Read curatorial context and practical visitor information for VOC Ship Amsterdam at National Maritime Museum in Amsterdam

Exhibition summary

Visit the replica of the VOC ship 'Amsterdam' to learn about life on board in the 17th and 18th centuries, the history of the VOC, its trade routes, and the significant shipbuilding project that created this replica in the 1980s.

Curatorial context

The VOC Ship 'Amsterdam' is a central feature of the National Maritime Museum, offering visitors an immersive experience of life aboard a 17th and 18th-century Dutch East India Company vessel. The replica, built in the 1980s as a large employment project, allows exploration of the ship's decks and holds, detailing the daily lives of sailors, their rations, and the historical context of the VOC's extensive trade network and the associated violence. The page also touches upon the ship's maintenance, new flag installations by artists, and ongoing museum efforts to re-evaluate and adapt the narratives presented on board, inviting visitors to reflect on the colonial past and the ship's future representation. Practical information regarding accessibility and weather-related closures is also provided.

Admission and ticket notes

Access to the 'Amsterdam' ship is generally included with museum admission. However, the ship may have limited accessibility during poor weather conditions and storm closures for safety. Visitors with mobility impairments can access the overloopdek via a lift, though the hold and upper deck are not wheelchair accessible. Further information on educational programs and other inquiries can be found via contact details provided on the page, and booking is encouraged via the provided link.

VOC Ship Amsterdam key exhibition facts

Review exhibition status, schedule, venue context, and attribution details for VOC Ship Amsterdam at National Maritime Museum in Amsterdam

Venue
National Maritime Museum
Current status
Open now
Exhibition schedule
Information not currently available
Artist line / attribution
The page mentions new signal flags designed by the artist collective Sites of Memory for the 'Decoding the Atlantic World' installation.
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