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Sea travels at the Maritime Museum

The Netherlands is a nation of seafarers. The National Maritime Museum on the IJ waterway in Amsterdam brings 500 years of maritime history to life in playful and colourful exhibitions. People of all ages love learning about the major role of shipping in Dutch culture. Hop on board a replica VOC vessel, travel through the Golden Age and discover a mysterious underwater world.

Family Fun

The VOC ship De Amsterdam

The famous ship De Amsterdam

Walking on the street towards the museum, you’ll immediately notice the majestic sail ship De Amsterdam. The vessel is an exact replica of a famous East Indiaman of the Dutch East Indies Company (VOC) that unfortunately was wrecked during its first voyage in 1749. This type of vessel was used for months-long trips to the Far East in the 17th and 18th centuries. Amsterdam!, an exhibition inside the ship, vividly brings to life the adventures of those people on board during the long journeys.

Sea voyage

Exciting adventures at sea

Would you like to stand face-to-face with the Dutch maritime hero Michiel de Ruyter? Then take the virtual Sea Voyage adventure. This spectacular interactive show in the Maritime Museum takes you back in time to experience what it was like to be a famous or unknown sailor: enjoy stunning starry nights in the middle of the ocean until a storm awakens and you suddenly find yourself in the midst of a battle. Not to worry – relief is on the horizon when you hear the words ‘Land ho!’.

Tale of the whale

The tale of the whale

The whale, the largest animal on earth, plays a major part in Dutch maritime history. Although whale hunting is now forbidden, this wasn’t always the case. Its baleens and oil made the marine mammal a profitable prey and nearly led to its extinction until hunting was banned. The exhibition The tale of the whale teaches visitors how these magnificent creatures have been perceived through the centuries.

Magical underwater world

Luminous sea creatures

Especially for children up to the age of 6, the museum offers the show Sal & Lori and Circus Sea. In this magical underwater world, children and their parents first ‘swim’ among luminous fish and other sea creatures. The real show begins on the deck of a ship. Sal and Lori enter the arena and head out to sea with the captain. The expertly projected images and typical sounds of the sea make this a stimulating experience for the senses.

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Active & Outdoor

Nightlife

Citytrip

Arts & Culture

Family fun

Active & Outdoor

Old towns, stunning constructions and wonderful nature: admire all of this and more in THIS IS HOLLAND, a brand-new 5D movie attraction by the producers of De Nieuwe Wildernis (The New Wilderness). It is the perfect introduction to Holland for first-time visitors, but also an interesting surprise for Dutchies who think they know their country inside out. This is a magical 5D experience with smells, colours, images, sounds, rain and shine.

Nightlife

Amsterdam has just gained another top attraction: the A’DAM Tower in trendy Amsterdam-Noord finally provides the city with a decent viewing platform. The 360-degree view, the ‘Over the Edge’ swing, a cocktail bar and a fabulous restaurant make the crossing from Amsterdam’s Central Station more than worthwhile.

Citytrip

Spending the weekend in Amsterdam? Get local and go by bike! It’s the best way to get from A to B without missing a single thing. Oh yes, this city has more to offer than the Van Gogh Museum, the flower market and coffee shops. With just a few tips, we would like to introduce you to the city that caters for all tastes with its endless list of activities and possibilities.

Arts & Culture

Innovative, visionary and imaginative: the work of the late 15th-century Dutch painter Hieronymus Bosch was truly groundbreaking. On display in museums around the world, his paintings still inspire countless visitors. 2016 marks the 500th anniversary of his death. There will be a series of events throughout the whole year to celebrate the life of this ingenious painter. All events will take place in ’s-Hertogenbosch (Den Bosch), his home town and one of the most beautiful medieval cities in the Netherlands.

Nightlife

With over 350 events, 2,200 DJs and more than 80 clubs and venues, the Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) is the largest electronic dance festival in the world. The most high-profile party during this 5-day long event in October is the Amsterdam Music Festival (AMF). The first edition of the AMF took place in 2013 and in less than 2 years this new festival has become a household name in the world of dance music.

Arts & Culture

Hundreds of historical ships on the water and countless activities on the quayside: SAIL Amsterdam 2015 will be one big extravaganza. This nautical event arrives in capital of the Netherlands every 5 years, and this 9th edition promises to be even more impressive and inspiring than ever before!

Nightlife

Without any false modesty, the organisers call it ‘the World’s Leading Dance Event’. Take a closer look at the facts and figures and you will see why. Sensation is the largest and most successful dance party in the world, drawing 40,000 visitors each year in Amsterdam and hosting international editions in 32 countries. To organise such a mega-event takes a monumental effort.

Nightlife

The 15th Sensation edition will not be going on an international tour and can only be experienced in Amsterdam. According to organiser Duncan Stutterheim: “This is a landmark event that deserves an exclusive show.” This event expects to welcome more foreign visitors than ever from 75 countries. Many visitors don’t fly home the next day but stay to explore the famous Amsterdam nightlife scene.

Arts & Culture

2015 marks exactly 125 years since the death of Vincent van Gogh. The painter still inspires many artists today. In memory of his life and work, many European countries are paying tribute to Van Gogh with unique exhibitions and celebrations.

Arts & Culture

The interactive exhibitions in Amsterdam’s Resistance Museum provide an impressive insight into the Netherlands in WWII. During this period, from 1940-1945, several Dutch people did their best to undermine the German occupation at great risk to their own lives. The fascinating collection is based on personal stories that showcase all the different actions undertaken by the Dutch in wartime.

Arts & Culture

The stately Royal Palace on Dam Square is one of the main historic monuments in Amsterdam. In the 17th century, the imposing building in the city centre was dubbed the ‘eighth wonder of the world’. Nowadays it is mainly used for official receptions and royal events, although the antique interior and beautiful art collection are open to the general public throughout the year.

Family fun

A tall, green building above the water of the IJ waterway. This is NEMO, the largest science museum in the Netherlands where you can dive into experiments and explore science and technology. Anyone curious about the world in which we live will adore this interactive museum – the perfect place to smell, hear, taste, feel and see how our planet works.