Of course the largest port of Europe can’t do without it’s own Harbour Museum (or Havenmuseum in Dutch). Therefore you can find the largest open-air museum of the Netherlands in Rotterdam, the Harbour Museum Rotterdam! Today most port operations are done out of town at the Maasvlakte location, but the Harbour Museum brings the historical atmosphere of the past back into the city centre. The Harbour Museum will give you a good view of the history of the Port of Rotterdam between 1850 and 1970.

Verolme Pavillon
A visit to the open air begins at the Verolme Pavilion, the entrance building of the Harbour Museum located at the Leuvehaven in the city centre. At the information desk you get information on all activities that take place in the Harbour Museum and you can there get a map as well. Within the pavilion you can see many exhibits of the port of Rotterdam. For example you can watch 200 movies that give you a view of the activities in the Port of Rotterdam in the past and present. But there is also a large model of the Port of Rotterdam.

Tour on a steam tug
The main part of the Harbour Museum is located outside. With your map in hand you can walk through the historical port where you can see many historic ships. In July and August and on Sundays you can usually do a trip on one of the steam tugs to the river or the harbour. On other days you can tour through the historic ports by a waterbus.

Port machinery
Besides ships you can find all kinds of port machinery as well. For example, you can see harbour cranes, derricks, a lighthouse, a loco motor and a grain elevator on steam! There are regularly demonstrations of old crafts organised in the warehouses of the Harbour Museum such as ironwork and carpentry. In the beautiful Old Harbour you will find the historic shipyard, called the Koningspoort, where ship owners can restore their historic ships.

Special activities for kids
The Harbour Museum organizes many special activities for children and children who celebrate their birthday can hold their own sailors party with their friends at the Harbour Museum.

If you want to know more about the Port of Rotterdam you can combine your visit to the Harbour Museum easily with a visit to the Maritime Museum or Spido, which are both located near the Harbour Museum.