Het Scheepvaartmuseum

Het Scheepvaartmuseum, the National Maritime Museum, tells the story of the Netherlands and the sea, a relationship that shaped Amsterdam's wealth, architecture and place in the world. The museum occupies 's Lands Zeemagazijn, the former naval storehouse of the Amsterdam Admiralty, designed by Daniël Stalpaert and built in 1656. The massive square building, set on piles in the harbour, was used to store sails, ropes, weapons and supplies for the fleet, and the museum moved in in 1973.

The collections span five centuries of seafaring. Displays include navigation instruments, globes and atlases, marine paintings, figureheads, ship models and ornate royal barges, and they cover subjects from trade, exploration and naval warfare to life on board. Some exhibitions are designed specifically for children, with interactive elements that explain the sea, ships and the people who sailed them.

The highlight for many visitors waits outside: a full-size replica of the Amsterdam, an 18th-century East Indiaman of the Dutch East India Company, built between 1985 and 1990. You can go on board and explore the decks and the hold, see how sailors lived and slept, and get a sense of how cramped and tough the long voyages to Asia were. A short film on board recalls the old port of Amsterdam.

The museum suits families especially well, but anyone curious about Dutch history will find plenty here. It is open every day from 10am to 5pm, and the library opens on weekdays. Tickets can be bought online through the museum's ticket shop, and holders of some city passes can visit with them. Allow two to three hours to see the main building and the ship without rushing, and visit the ship early if you want it to yourself. The museum shop stocks maritime books, models and gifts.

The museum is on Kattenburgerplein, on the edge of the eastern islands, about a 20-minute walk from Central Station along the waterfront. NEMO Science Museum is a few minutes' walk to the west, so the two can be combined into a full day with children. Brouwerij 't IJ's tasting room beside the De Gooyer windmill is a little further east for a drink afterwards.