• Maritiem Muzeeum Zeeland - Holland Heritage
  • Maritiem Muzeeum Zeeland - Holland Heritage
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Maritiem Muzeeum Zeeland

Maritiem Muzeeum Zeeland

The Maritiem MuZEEum Zeeland is much more than a museum — it’s a living tribute to Zeeland’s deep connection with the sea. Zeeland, a province shaped by water, has been intertwined with maritime trade, exploration, and naval power for centuries. The museum embodies this legacy through its unique blend of history, archaeology, and culture. At the heart of the museum is the Lampsinshuis, an imposing 17th-century mansion built by the wealthy Lampsins family, who were influential merchants and shipowners during the Dutch Golden Age. The Lampsins family played a crucial role in expanding Zeeland’s maritime influence, including trade and colonization efforts overseas. Housing the museum here connects visitors directly with the very people and era that shaped Zeeland’s maritime history. The museum’s collections tell stories that reach far beyond local waters. Through its rich artifacts—from shipwreck treasures of the VOC (Dutch East India Company), one of the world’s earliest multinational corporations, to detailed models of merchant ships and naval vessels—visitors gain insight into global trade routes, colonial histories, and technological advances in seafaring.

Openingstijden

  • Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Hoe er te komen

Nieuwendijk 11, 4381 BV Vlissingen, Netherlands.

Prijzen vanaf

From €16

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A powerful part of the museum’s narrative is its acknowledgment of all aspects of maritime history, including the difficult chapters such as the transatlantic slave trade. For example, the detailed model of the slave ship D’Elisabet Galy serves as a somber reminder of the human cost tied to maritime commerce.

The Maritiem MuZEEum Zeeland aims to connect people to the sea not only through artifacts and exhibitions but also through interactive experiences that engage families and children. It invites visitors to imagine life as sailors and shipbuilders, feel the excitement and dangers of the sea, and appreciate the cultural heritage Zeeland owes to its maritime past.

Today, the museum is a vibrant cultural center that bridges the past and present, hosting exhibitions about the evolving role of Zeeland’s ports and maritime industries, while preserving and celebrating centuries of maritime heritage.

🖌️ Artworks

The Maritiem muZEEum Zeeland in Vlissingen boasts a rich and diverse art collection that highlights the region's maritime heritage. Notable artworks include:

  • Portraits by Ferdinand Bol: Featuring Admiral Michiel de Ruyter and his wife Anna van Gelder, these 17th-century paintings are set in ornate, gilded frames adorned with maritime and military motifs
  • "View of Vlissingen" by Petrus Segaers: A 17th-century painting capturing the historic port city
  • Works by Various Artists: The museum's collection includes pieces by artists such as Jan Pieter van Baurscheidt de Jonge, Jan François Brouwenaar, Charles Howard Hodges, Johannes Christiaan Schotel, Nicolaas Pieneman, and Pieter Christoffel Wonder, among others

These artworks, alongside maritime artifacts and ship models, offer visitors a comprehensive view of Zeeland's nautical history and artistic legacy.

🎨 What can visitors learn?

Visitors to the Maritiem muZEEum Zeeland can explore Zeeland’s rich maritime history, learning about the lives of sailors, the impact of the Dutch East India Company, and the legacy of Admiral Michiel de Ruyter. They discover how historic and modern ports operate, view maritime art and artifacts, and gain insight into seafaring culture through interactive exhibits and family-friendly activities.

🏛️ Architecture

The Maritiem muZEEum Zeeland is housed in the historic 17th-century Lampsinshuis, a former merchant’s city palace in Vlissingen, known for its classic Dutch architecture. The museum complex combines this elegant heritage building and adjacent old warehouses with modern architectural additions designed to blend seamlessly with the historic structures. Inside, traditional design elements merge with contemporary spaces, creating a unique setting that highlights Zeeland’s maritime history while providing an engaging visitor experience.

Enkele hoogtepunten van Maritiem Muzeeum Zeeland

Portrait of Michiel de Ruyter (1607-1676)

Michiel de Ruyter, Admiral of the Dutch Fleet, won a glorious battle against the English in the Four Days’ Battle of 1666. To commemorate this victory, he had his portrait painted by the Amsterdam portraitist Bol. In the background is a seascape with De Ruyter’s flagship. The portrait is still in its original seventeenth-century frame. It is a gilded trophy frame boasting a wonderful collection of weaponry: drums, flags, cannons and powder kegs. De Ruyter’s coat of arms is displayed in the top centre.

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A slave ship from Zeeland: D’Elisabet Galy

From the eighteenth century onwards, Zeeland has played a major role in the slave trade. Ships that resemble D'Elisabet Galy's model from 1762 sail from the ports of Middelburg and Vlissingen. They go to West Africa to buy people. The enslaved are brought to America and sold there. They have to work for their new owners on plantations. The ships return to Europe with merchandise.

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Anna van Gelder: Business Woman from Vlissingen

In 1652 Michiel de Ruyter married Anna van Gelder, his third wife, from Vlissingen. The two love each other very much. He writes her extensive letters when he is at sea. She accompanies him on an important visit, for example to Grand Pensionary Johan de Witt. Van Gelder is a businesswoman. She arranges all of De Ruyter's financial affairs on shore, takes care of ship supplies and pays the sailors' wives.

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