Agenda Autumn vacations at Museum Batavialand

Autumn vacations at Museum Batavialand

October 10–25, 2026

There’s plenty to do at Museum Batavialand this fall break! Admire the Batavia on dry land for the first time, roll up your sleeves, and discover fascinating stories from the past. From roasting marshmallows and sampling 17th-century dishes to a musical shipwreck concert: there’s something for the whole family to discover.

The Batavia as you’ve never seen her before

The Batavia has been on land since October 2. It’s an impressive sight! For the first time, you can admire this imposing ship out of the water.

You can’t go on board for now, but there’s plenty to discover. Our guides will take you on a journey from the shore, sharing stories about the ship and its crew. With the audio tour, you’ll learn even more about the Batavia. And if you’d still like to take a look on board? In the rope-making workshop at the shipyard, our colleague Titia will guide you through the ship via an interactive screen.

The Shipwreck Concert: Music Brings Shipwrecks to Life

Sunday, October 25 | 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

What did the music sound like back when ships still sailed the Zuiderzee? Find out at the Shipwreck Concert! The Camerata de Lely Ensemble takes you on a musical journey past the museum’s remarkable shipwrecks.

Together with the musicians and a guide, you’ll walk past various sites. At each shipwreck, you’ll hear music that reflects the era from which the ship originated. Discover the Oorijzer wreck from 1826, the 18th-century Ventjager, and the story of the drowned skipper Jan Kissies at the Lutina. The Flevowand, the BAARDEVOL exhibition, and the view of the Batavia are also part of the route.

The concert will be conducted by Juho Myllylä and is included with your regular admission ticket.

Taste and experience the 17th century!

Sunday, October 18

Go back four centuries in time and discover how people used to live, cook, and work!

At 12:00 p.m., see how to start a fire without modern tools. Between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., you can roast your own marshmallows over the fire. Meet the surgeon and Lucretia, who will take you on a journey through the fascinating stories and customs of the 17th century.

Are you curious about what people used to eat? Come taste 17th-century dishes today and discover the flavors of the past. A day when you don’t just see the past—you also smell and taste it!

Roll up your sleeves and get to work!

How do you forge a nail? How do you make strong rope? And how do you carve a cup out of plaster? During fall break, you can try your hand at historical crafts.

On different days, you’ll learn how to twist rope, tie knots, forge nails, or carve a plaster cup. You can also watch demonstrations of sail-making and take a look inside the restoration workshop.

On Saturday, October 24, you’ll also hear a loud bang during the cannon demonstrations at 1:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Discover how a historic cannon works and how the gunners used to operate.

In addition, there are traditional Dutch games, bingo, and creative activities for children every day.

New: BAARDEVOL – Jugs with

Faces
Have you ever seen a jug that looks right at you? In the new exhibition BAARDEVOL – Jugs with Faces, you’ll discover centuries-old jugs with striking faces. Some are smiling, while others look stern or surly. But who exactly is that mysterious man with the big beard?

Admire a selection of no fewer than 75 complete “bearded man” jugs from the maritime archaeological collection. Discover remarkable finds from shipwrecks, including the Queen Anne, where no fewer than thirty “bearded man” jugs were found.

With the interactive face book, you can compare the faces yourself. Which bearded man do you think is the funniest?

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