By Karen Korr, to Museum Spotlight Europe (June 2018)
Maritime enthusiasts beware– Europe is a mecca of maritime museums. Throughout the continent, you’ll find interesting and historically significant memorabilia related to everything on and under the water. Like the ships you find inside, the museums are big and small, some are fancy and some are quaint, but all pay homage to some part of Europe’s vast maritime history. Even if you are not a water aficionado, you are sure to find something to “float your boat.”
National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, England
Arguably the world’s largest maritime museum, the National Maritime Museum is a great way to start your European maritime museum tour. The museum officially opened in 1937. It was created by the National Maritime Act of 1934, and initially featured the donations of Sir James Caird. The museum was formally opened by King George IV when his daughter Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth) made the journey with him along the Thames River.
The museum’s collection comprises more than two million pieces, including a large and expansive portrait collection, in addition to manuscripts, ship models and plans, British and Dutch maritime art as well as scientific and navigational instruments and more. The collection includes items procured from the German Naval Acadamy Murwik following World War II.
The Netherlands National Maritime Museum, Amsterdam
If your travels take you to Amsterdam, you’re likely to tour a museum or two before hitting the city’s famous centuries-old bars and coffee shops. This national museum welcomes over 300,000 visitors a year, who enjoy paintings, scale models, and world maps. The expansive map collection includes works by famous cartographers Willem and Joan Blaeu, as well as a copy of the first edition of Maximilianus Transylvanus’ De Moluccis Insulis, which is said to be the first document to describe the voyage of Ferdinand Magellan.
In 1990, a replica of the Amsterdam, the 18th century ship which sailed between the Netherlands and the East Indies, was built and docked outside of the museum’s entrance.
The Navy Museum of Brest, France
Located inside a medieval fortress, Brest Castle, this museum showcases the history of the French Navy. In 2010, the museum was renovated to include modern day technology, including an audio tour. First opened in 1984, this museums’ collections are divided between five museums: the Palais de
Chaillot in Paris, the citadel of Brest, the Musée national de la marine in Port-Louis, Rochefort and Toulon. Not only does this museum chronicle the country’s naval history, but it also offers an inside look at the history of Brest. In 2013, five new rooms were added to the museum which are dedicated to the country’s current navy endeavors.
Aegean Maritime Museum, Mykonos, Greece
There’s no doubt that Greece is known for its picturesque water scene. The Aegean Maritime Museum in Mykanos opened in 1985, and specializes in preserving and studying the Aegean Sea’s merchant ship history. The first museum in Greece to feature living restoration exhibits, the museum houses restorations including the Amernistis Lighthouse (built in 1890) and the ships Thalis O Milesios, built in 1909, and Eva
ngelistria, built in 1940. In addition to the restorations, the museum’s garden houses marble gravestones of ancient sailors, collected from both Mykanos and the island of Delos.
Museu Maritim de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
In beautiful Barcelona, museums are plentiful. This museum, however, located in the royal arsenal of Barcelona, is dedicated solely to shipbuilding between the 13th and 18th centuries. Declared a “Museum of National Interest” by the Government of Catalonia, the museum hosts weapons, paintings, and navigation instruments from throughout the Spanish Navy’s history and a thorough history of the evolution of Spanish ships. Located at the foot of the famed Las Ramblas, museum visitors can also enjoy watching ship restorations in process while visiting the museum.
Maritime Museum of Finland, Kotka, Finland
With a mission to “preserve and interpret the history of Finnish seafaring,” this museum is located in the Maritime Centre Vallamo, at the old city port of Kotka. This museum’s architecture is often lauded, with the museum winning many travel and construction awards since it opened in 2008. Described as unique and interesting, this museum features vessels from Northern Europe. Visitors also commend the museum’s restaurant, and its buffet in particular.
Naval Museum of Venice, Venice, Italy
Established by the Italian Royal Navy (the Regina Marina) in 1919, this museum’s collections includes items relating to the naval and maritime history of Venice, complete with displays of weapons and ship models. Visitors experience exhibits ranging from skiffs to gondolas to steamboats and more. The highlight of the museum is said to be its collection of scale models once used for shipbuilding, and a collection of real-size authentic historical ships.
German Maritime Museum, Bremerhaven, Germany
This museum was founded in 1971 to replace the Museum of Marine Science in Berlin, which was destroyed during World War II. Focused on preserving and presenting documents and artifacts related to German maritime history, the museum has on-site facilities to help in examining and restoring artifacts. Permanent exhibits include an outdoor museum port with coastal, inland and sea vessels from 1867 to 1985, and an extension that highlights polar and marine research, whaling, sailing and rowing.
Viking Ship Museum, Fram Museum, and Kon-Tiki Museum, Oslo, Norway
These three museums, all in close proximity, combine the best of maritime history with the best of adventure. The Viking Ship Museum is just that: a museum devoted to three recovered Viking ships, including its centerpiece, the Oseberg Ship, so named for where it was excavated. Nearby is the Fram Museum, which focuses on the Norwegian polar explorations and particularly the ship used from 1893-1912, the Fram. Finally, the Kon-Tiki Museum, honors the achievements of Thor Heyerdahl and displays both the Kon-Tiki and the Ra II.
HMS Belfast, River Thames, London, England
Finally, for the complete World War II maritime experience, visit the restored HMS Belfast, moored along Queen’s Walk, near Tower Bridge, right in the heart of London. The Belfast is one of only three remaining ships that were part of the bombardment effort on D-Day (the other two being in the United States). Visitors are granted extensive access to the ship, and get an in-depth education on the turning point of the war, from the point of view of a ship that actually was there!
