Scheepvaartmuseum

Housed in a grand former naval storehouse of 1656 on the eastern harbour, this maritime museum charts five centuries of Dutch seafaring, trade and exploration. Its collection spans navigation instruments, globes, paintings, ship models and atlases from the age when the Netherlands dominated global commerce. Moored alongside is a full-size replica of the East Indiaman Amsterdam, which visitors can board to inspect the cramped decks. The building's covered inner courtyard, roofed with a glass structure, is a striking feature in its own right.