Set sail for some Dutch maritime history! Enkhuizen's Zuiderzeemuseum tells the stories and shares the culture of the people who used to live on the shores of the south sea. With indoor and outdoor exhibitions, you can literally walk through a piece of history – full steam ahead!

In 1932, the Dutch government built the Afsluitdijk dam, which cut off the Zuiderzee region from the North Sea and split it into two parts – the IJsselmeer and the Waddenzee. This famous museum looks back to a time before this monumental construction, preserving the uniquely Dutch culture and customs of a bygone era.

In the indoor museum, you can see original and reconstructed 17th-century buildings, packed with artifacts, costumes, and hands-on exhibitions. Don't miss the giant ship hall, where you can get close to restored fishing and recreational ships from the past.

Summer visitors can explore the outdoor museum's recreation of a traditional Zuiderzee village, with an authentic church, fisherman's shop, windmill, drugstore, houses, and actors in period costume engaged in smoking herring, fixing their nets and other quotidian activities. They're happy to teach you too!

Getting There

• Train to Enkhuizen Station + a 15-minute walk. Follow the signs for Zuiderzeemuseum
• During summer season (April - October), ferries leave from behind the Tourist Information Center (VVV) opposite Enkhuizen Train Station to the Outdoor Museum. Access to the ferry from the station is included.
• Car: Most parking places in the centre of Enkhuizen are reserved for permit holders. This is why we advise you to park your car on the large parking lot at the entrance pavilion on the edge of Enkhuizen