Maritime Festival 2024
End your summer with a splash at the Maritime Festival on September 7th and 8th. Starting from September 5th, you can explore three maritime photo exhibitions, and throughout the week, there’s plenty to see in the harbour with visiting guest ships and participating organizations.
The Maritime Festival, held during World Port Days, is packed with maritime activities. Step aboard and explore the maritime world of the past, present, and future. In the week leading up to World Port Days, there’s also plenty happening in the museum harbour.
The museum harbour is buzzing!
During the entire festival, the Maritime Museum Harbour is the perfect place to drop anchor! Step aboard one of the many ships, join in on the numerous activities, or simply relax on the terrace of IJssalon Loeve or the museum café 'Het Lage Licht' to enjoy all the wonderful sights and experiences the Maritime Museum has to offer this weekend.
During the Maritime Festival we will show three special maritime photo exhibitions. With both feet on the ground, you can experience what life and work at sea can be like in these exhibitions.
Who are the people on board and what are their motivations, their moments of happiness and fears? Take a look at life and work at sea.
“Life at Sea” photo expo
In collaboration with the Seafarers Trust, we present a moving photo exhibition that depicts the lives of seafarers.
The photos can be viewed on the windows of the Leuvepaviljoen.
Havenvrienden Rotterdam
Every month there is a theme on the Facebook page of the Havenvrienden that photographers can participate in. And every month a winner is chosen.
During the Maritime Festival, the monthly winners of 2023 can be seen in the historic ship the ‘Geertruida’.
Redders op zee
In the context of the 200th anniversary of KNRM (Royal Dutch Rescue Society), a photo exhibition by Jeroen Hofman and Robin de Puy can be seen.
The photos can be seen on the facade and in the entrance hall of the museum.
During the Maritime Festival we have a wide range of guest ships.
This time the sailing fishing fleet is a guest and also the many ships that have been used for work in the harbour over the years. Think of motor tugs and steam tugs, but also the parlevinkers and the turn sailors were important for the continuation of life and work in the harbour. In addition, the historic service ships of the harbour company and rescue boats of the KNRM are of course present.
There are several maritime and open-air museums in the Netherlands. A number of these will be visiting the Maritime Museum Haven this weekend.
Drop by and get to know these museums and their collections. At some museums, you would not initially think that they have anything to do with the maritime world, but the maritime world is still discussed or there are objects in the collection that are related to it. Curious? Then come to the museum street, on the quay of the museum harbour.
Our workshops are busy during the Maritime Festival.
In workshop 1, the wood workshop, we are building a lifeboat for our coaster ‘Zeemeeuw’ together with the Wood & Furniture College. While students and volunteers/employees are finishing the lifeboat, young visitors can also get to work and build their own model boat.
In workshop 2, the metal workshop, artist Joppe is working on a real work of art made of metal and in the forge, workshop 3, blacksmith Bas will work with the public to forge a joint work of art.
Roll up your sleeves and join the blacksmith!
Please note! Only a limited number of visitors can participate in the forge at the same time. Therefore, register in the forge on the day itself.
Sneak preview
- From Wednesday, September 4th to Friday, September 6th, museum visitors can get a preview of the weekend's activities. Guest ships will be arriving, and the museum harbour will be prepped for an exciting program during the weekend of September 7th and 8th.
Extensive public program
- Saturday 7 sept: 10.00 - 17.00 h
- Sunday Sept 8: 11.00 - 17.00 h museumharbour and 11.00-17.00 h museumbuilding
On Saturday, September 7th, and Sunday, September 8th, numerous activities will take place on the quayside and in our workshops. Various maritime and open-air museums will be our guests, showcasing and sharing everything about maritime heritage. There will be demonstrations of maritime crafts, guided tours, and of course, the harbor cranes and other objects will be in action. On the square near the museum, you'll find music, delicious food and drinks, and plenty of activities for families.
The docks will be bustling with activity!
A wide variety of vessels will be on display: fishing boats, inland navigation vessels, workboats, pleasure crafts, and kayaks. Join one of the guided tours to learn more about the passion for sailing and maintaining these treasures, many of which are of Dutch origin. Maritime Dutch design through the ages.
World Port Days Program
The Maritime Festival coincides with the World Port Days program. For three days, there’s plenty to experience along the quays and on the Nieuwe Maas in Rotterdam. Several ships from the Maritime Museum will participate in the excursions and shows on the water.
Ticket sales for the World Port Days excursions and boat tours start on August 19th.
Please note! Tickets for the boat tours are sold through World Port Days, and the ships will depart from a pontoon at the Westerkade.
