Museum Batavialand is renewing. Step by step we are working on a future-proof museum where the stories of water, land and people are told in a contemporary way. On this page you can read how the renewal is taking shape, who is involved and what steps we are taking in the coming period.
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What will change?
The renewal consists of new construction, refurbishment of existing buildings and the development of the National Ship Archaeological Depot. Everything will be designed with an eye for experience, accessibility and heritage preservation. This will create a coherent whole that connects with the visitor of tomorrow.
Where are we now?
The renewal goes through several design phases.
- The preliminary design has been completed. It outlines the general concept: the spatial layout, the main routes, and the initial ideas for the building and its interior design.
- The preliminary design has also been completed. It includes key decisions regarding form, materials, layout, and visitor experience, both for the building itself and for the museum spaces.
- Current phase: the final design. In this document, the plans are further developed into a coherent and concrete whole.
- This is followed by the technical design, the final step in which the plans for construction are prepared.
In the preliminary design, the ship Batavia was given a prominent spot on land, right in the middle of the museum grounds. An initial design was also created for the new entrance building, the exhibition spaces, and the workshops. Together, these elements form a unified whole, with the seabed serving as the unifying narrative.
The design teams are now working with the internal task forces to further develop the final design. This work is being done for both the building and the museum spaces.
The sketch designs:
The Batavia Leaves the Water
An important step in the renovation is now becoming apparent. After 31 years at the shipyard in Lelystad, the Batavia will be taken out of the water around the end of summer 2026. She will be towed to a dry dock in Amsterdam. There, she will be placed on a pontoon and sailed back to Lelystad, where she will be placed on dry land. On the grounds of the Batavialand Museum, she will take her new, permanent place as part of the large-scale renovation.
In preparation, work will be carried out on board in the coming period. On July 22, for example, the remaining cannons and some of the ballast will be removed from the ship. The ship will not be open to visitors on that day.
Until it is moved, the Batavia will remain open to visitors, with a few adjustments. The hold is already closed, and access to the gun deck and the soldiers’ deck will be limited this summer.
Design teams on board
Two design teams have been selected for the renovated Museum Batavialand:
- The Black Dog (in collaboration with Arup) – responsible for the design of the new museum building.
- OPERA – responsible for interior design.
Together with Museum Batavialand, they are working on a design that:
- functional and durable;
- fits the identity of Flevoland and Lelystad;
- provides space for stories about water, land and people;
- invites visitors to explore, learn and experience together.
Curious about their vision?
Read the conversation with André van der Slik (De Zwarte Hond) and Jeroen Luttikhuis (OPERA), in which they talk about their inspiration, collaboration and initial ideas for the new Museum Batavialand.
What can you expect in the coming period?
The coming period will be marked by several important steps in the renovation of Museum Batavialand. We are currently working on the final design for both the building and the museum spaces. In this phase, the plans are being developed into a concrete, construction-ready design. Meanwhile, the Batavia is also being prepared for her relocation. Toward the end of the summer, we’ll wave her off as she leaves the water and is towed to the dry dock in Amsterdam. After that, she’ll return to Lelystad, where we’ll bring her back ashore and place her on dry land at her new location on the grounds. We’ll wrap up the year with a focus on the technical design—the next step in further preparing the plans for construction.
Project timeline:
Step by step, this creates an increasingly clear picture of the renovated Museum Batavialand.
The renovation of Museum Batavialand is being made possible through a collaboration between the national government, the Province of Flevoland, the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands, the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science, the municipality of Lelystad, and Museum Batavialand.
Last update to this page: July 2026
