The Maritime Collection

Ship portraits

For decoration, but also for the instruction of crew members, skilled hands built ship models with delicate cordage and tiny pulleys. Shipowners also liked to have their ships depicted in paint, preferably at sea under full gear. The ship portraits reflect the pride of their owners.

Bileauntle

The maritime collection also includes objects such as a figurehead and a fog horn, as well as stories such as that of commander Klaas Hoekstra. Witnessing his diary, he left for Greenland in 1825, whaling. His brand new galleot ship was woefully cracked in the Arctic ice, but the crew - long thought dead - returned to Harlingen after a year full of horrors. Merchant shipping and admiralty are also discussed.