Have you ever seen a jug that looks right at you? In the exhibition “Jugs with Beards,” you’ll discover centuries-old jugs with striking faces. Some are smiling, while others look stern or surly. But who is that mysterious man with the big beard? And why were these jugs made in the past? At Museum Batavialand, you’ll discover the extraordinary stories behind these enigmatic faces.
Extraordinary treasures from shipwrecks
Beard-man jugs were once used to store beverages and were even taken aboard ships. Some sank to the bottom of the Zuiderzee centuries ago, where archaeologists later recovered them. In this exhibition, you can admire a selection of the most beautiful and unique bearded man jugs from our collection. One of the most striking finds comes from the wreck NK47-II, also known as the Queen Anne, where no fewer than thirty bearded man jugs were discovered.
Which “bearded man” is your favorite?
From impressive mustaches to stern expressions: no two bearded men are alike! Discover how the jugs were made, why almost all of them feature a man’s face, and what secrets they’ve been keeping for centuries. A surprising exhibition for young and old alike, full of history, remarkable finds, and stories.
