The National Maritime Museum

Het Scheepvaartmuseum tells the maritime story of Amsterdam from inside a building that is itself part of that story: the 1656 Zeemagazijn was the main arsenal of the Amsterdam Admiralty. Daniel Stalpaert designed the monumental structure on an artificial island in the Oosterdok, founded on around 18,000 wooden piles driven into the silt. In the courtyard lies a full-scale replica of the VOC East Indiaman Amsterdam, whose original ran aground on its maiden voyage off the English south coast in 1749 and is still embedded there. The collection includes globes, sea charts, marine paintings by Willem van de Velde and a vast cabinet of ship models. A modern glass-roofed courtyard links the old warehouse wings and is among the most striking museum atria in Europe. Very family-friendly with on-board tours.