Last updated: August 25, 2026
Status: Last week of visits
The Schedule
August 30 – Last Day of Visits
This is the last day visitors can tour the Batavia while the ship is still in the water. After that, the ship will be prepared for departure.
September 19 – Final voyage to Amsterdam
The Batavia, complete with its masts, will be towed to Amsterdam by tugboats. The journey is expected to take about eight hours. The ship will remain afloat on its own hull during this trip.
Around October 1 – Back in Lelystad
After the work in Amsterdam, the Batavia will return to Lelystad. This time, the ship will be placed on a pontoon within a large steel support structure.
October 2 – The Batavia Comes Ashore
Using a computer-controlled transport vehicle, the Batavia will be driven off the pontoon and taken to its new location on the museum grounds. There, the ship will be positioned more than eight meters higher than it is now.
Please note: All dates are subject to change. Weather conditions, water levels on the Markermeer, and the dry dock schedule may affect operations. Therefore, please check this page regularly for the latest updates.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Relocation of the Batavia
The Batavia is in a fragile condition and requires major maintenance. On land, the wood can dry more effectively, the ship can be better protected from the elements, and maintenance can be carried out more effectively. This will ensure that the Batavia is preserved for future generations.
The Batavia will first be towed from Lelystad to Amsterdam. During the tow, the ship will remain afloat and its masts will remain in place. In Amsterdam, the Batavia will be placed on a specially designed steel support structure. The ship will then return to Lelystad on a pontoon. There, it will be transported from the pontoon to its new location using a computer-controlled transport vehicle, an SPMT.
The Batavia will be relocated right next to the Batavialand Museum. The ship will be placed on a concrete foundation there, more than eight meters higher than at its current location.
The Batavia is 56.6 meters long, 10.5 meters wide, and 30.5 meters high, including the masts. Without ballast, the ship weighs approximately 646 metric tons. The specially designed steel support structure on which the ship will rest weighs another 87 metric tons.
Yes. The relocation is the first visible step in the large-scale renovation of Museum Batavialand. Soon, the ship, the shipyard, and the exhibitions will all be brought together in one location. The renovated Museum Batavialand is expected to open in late 2028.
After the ship is placed on land, maintenance work will be carried out first. The Batavia will also be prepared as quickly as possible so that it can safely welcome visitors again. It is not yet known exactly when the ship will be open to visitors again. As soon as we have more information, we will post it on this page.
The relocation of the Batavia is a major operation involving collaboration between various clients and specialized companies.
Clients include:
Museum Batavialand
City of Lelystad
Province of Flevoland
Cultural Heritage Agency of theNetherlands
Implementing partners include:
Damen Shiprepair: work in the dry dock and placement of the Batavia in the steel support structure
Trans Global Projects: project management
Koninklijke Van der Wees: towage between Lelystad and Amsterdam and deployment of the pontoon
FaraFlash: determining the dimensions and weight of the Batavia and the preliminary design of the support structure
Kuperus & Gardenier: verification of dimensions and weight, and consultation regarding the support structure and vulnerable areas of the ship
Q3 Heavy Lift: detailed design of the support structure and transport using SPMTs, including driving the pontoon off, jacking, and placement on the foundation
Anton Bouw- en Betontechniek: construction of the concrete foundation
Niron Staal: construction of the steel support structure on which the Batavia will be placed.
We understand that many people would like to experience these special moments. Whether and where the public will be allowed to attend the departure for Amsterdam and the return to Lelystad will be announced at a later date. This depends on the final schedule, safety considerations, and the circumstances surrounding the operation.
As soon as more information is available regarding times, locations, and ways to follow the flight, we will share it on this page and through our other channels.
