The Zuiderzee Museum is everything you desire and expect from a museum the focus of which is Dutch heritage and culture. All the stories, anecdotes and myths you've heard about the Netherlands, from the clogs, to the milk maidens, to the cheese, to the history of maritime glory is here in tangible form for you to enjoy and (in some cases!) partake.
Zuiderzeemuseum, photo credit: Trea Tingen
The Zuiderzeemuseum (to use its Dutch name) is located in Enkhuizen in the northwestern part of the Netherlands, only a short train ride from Amsterdam Central Station. Until the 20th century it was one of the biggest and most important harbor cities in the Netherlands. The museum is dedicated to preserving the affluent heritage of the Enkhuizen region, and specifically the maritime past of the Zuiderzee. If you're wondering why you've never seen trains headed to or arriving from the Zuiderzee in spite of such historical significance... well, that is because the majority of the Zuiderzee, or “south sea,” no longer exists. In 1932 the IJsselmeer Barrier Dam, the "Afsluitdijk," closed off the Zuiderzee from the North Sea and created two fresh water lakes, IJseelmeer and Markermeer. As a result, in truly Dutch fashion, over 1,500 km2 of land was reclaimed and subsequently became the province of Flevoland.
Zuiderzeemuseum, photo credit: Trea Tingen
The Zuiderzeemuseum explores the theme of how maritime activity and traditional Dutch crafts tie and bind a community and culture together, something that is particularly visualized in the outdoor part of the museum. Covering 15 acres, the outdoor museum is home to buildings in the typical style of the villages in the Zuiderzee region. These include traditional homes, a church, a fish-curing shed, a mill, and even a cheese warehouse. To top the experience off, museum staff and local volunteers actually demonstrate the crafts employed in everyday 20th century Dutch life. Closed for the winter season, the outdoor museum reopens on March 30th 2013.
Zuiderzeemuseum, photo credit: Trea Tingen
The indoor collection of the museum is the real hidden treasure of the Zuiderzee region. Housed in a string of 17th century building that were once warehouses, the story of the Zuiderzee is told through photography, videos, traditional costumes, furniture, visual art and design providing a fun and educational experience that sits well with both adults and children. For one thing, the indoor museum has the largest collection of wooden ships in the Netherlands, among which visitors can wander. There is also the Zuiderzee Automat, which looks like a regular “snack automat” such as those used by Febo (side not: if you haven’t yet gotten warm deep-fried potato-based goodies from a vending machine, you are missing out on a quintessential Dutch experience, DO IT). However, instead of greasy fast-food, once you put your coin in you get an artifact of Dutch history and a written explanation of its back story to keep as a souvenir. If you do get peckish there are two restaurants and a cafe on the grounds, as well as a chips and ice cream store.
Zuiderzeemuseum, photo credit: Trea Tingen
I think I’m not alone in thinking that an interactive museum experience is usually the one that sticks with you the longest and makes the biggest impression. The Zuiderzeemuseum really allows its visitors to grasp the dynamic that made the Netherlands a leader of global history while encouraging them to get a feel for the everyday life of those who made it possible.
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