Maritime Museum In Rotterdam - Highly Interactive & Kids Love It

The Maritime museum in Rotterdam is one of the most interactive museums in the Netherlands. It covers a wide variety of topics ranging from ship building, mussel farming, how oil is extracted, the North sea, plastic in the ocean and more.

Located in central Rotterdam, the museum is easy to get to but it does require at least 3-4 hours to see it properly. We unfortunately arrived here at 3pm and had only 2 hours to explore it which meant that we did not see everything. That is something that I really regreted.

It is worthwhile noting that the Maritime museum is one of the best children's activities in Rotterdam. My kids loved it and I saw loads of other kids enjoying their time here. I would recommend it both in good and bad weather because there are outdoor activities with the kids. Mine loved it so much that they requested another trip to the city just so that we could visit it again.

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How To Get To Rotterdam

Rotterdam is the second largest city in the Netherlands and it is well connected with not just other cities in the country but also with other countries because it has an international airport. The train stations connects Rotterdam to the other cities in the Netherlands.

Getting from Groningen to Rotterdam took us time but we decided to take the car since Shawn had to go to work too. There are a large number of parking lots in the city. The Museum Square has a nice large parking lot and it is an easy walk from there.

Tickets To The Maritime Museum In Rotterdam

You can get the tickets to the Maritime museum in Rotterdam at the counters but it is a really popular museum especially during the holiday periods and during the weekends. Like with all museums in the Netherlands, I recommend booking the tickets online because it saves you time in queues. You just scan your QR code and enter.

Just note that the ticket includes access to some exhibits at the historic museum harbour. That way you won't miss out on an experience. We did not have time to explore this part of the museum but we did walk around a bit and it looked really cool.

Note: If you have a museum card, this museum is free.

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Things To Do In The Maritime Museum In Rotterdam

1. The Offshore Experience

Offshore experience in the Maritime museum in Rotterdam

I found the Offshore experience in the Maritime Museum remarkable. It is rated for children 8+ but if your child has no issues with loud noises, you can enter. Mine were 5 and 7 at the time we visited and both the children loved this interactive section.

You start off with an understanding of oil and gas prices, the locations for extractions and how supply and demand work. They also cover all the issues related to oil and gas exploration. The first exhibit is in the waiting area and you can turn the knobs to see what happens when you change a parameter. Very informative for both children and adults.

You then enter and have a brief on safety regulations on rigs and in the North Sea. How it works and why certain precautions are in progress. You move forward to an interactive oil rig where you can drill for oil, operate machinery, build a ship or land a helicopter. There are lots of audio exhibits too.

Once you have an understanding of how the industry works, you move on to alternative energy and you also get a glimpse of what it is like under the sea. I could spend over an hour in this exhibit. It is spectacular.

2. Launch

Ship displays in the Maritime museum in Rotterdam

Another great interactive display about Dutch shipbuilding. It is fun for both kids and adults. There are a couple of games that you can play to understand how ship building works, how propellers help the boat move, sizes of boats and ships, etc.

3. Audio Tour Of The Harbour

You can take an audio tour of the harbour. We unfortunately did not do this due to lack of time. It is a very popular activity and we will go back to do this. I will update this when we do.

4. Demonstrations

One of the nice things about the Maritime museum in Rotterdam is that they have demonstrations that take place. Here you can see a smith work on different aspects of ship building. It is subject to the availability of a blacksmith. So it is worth asking if there is any scheduled for the time you are there.

5. The Port City Of Rotterdam

Rotterdam is a port city and it is one of the most important port cities in the world. The exhibition takes you through different people's perspectives about the city.

6. Maritime Women

This exhibit in the Maritime museum in Rotterdam talks about the women who work in the field. You can hear their stories and see what their jobs entail.

7. Plons

Plons in the Maritime museum in Rotterdam

I want to highlight Plons. If you are visiting with kids Plons is the absolute place to be and it really does not matter how old your kid is. There is something for everyone. I probably could have done more at the museum if I had not got stuck here but no regrets.

Plons is an exhibit designed to teach children about the future of the sea. It is completely interactive and there are workspaces for children of all ages. There is an indoor and outdoor space. The outdoor space gives you a view of the harbour which is really nice. That way you can unwind while the children play.

Did I mention that education takes place through play? Absolutely incredible. If I had to pick just one place to spend the day with my kids in Rotterdam, this would be it.

It is worth noting that this is a really popular spot so during vacations and on the weekends you need to book a time slot to enter and it is really busy. Off peak hours it is really chill.

Where To Stay In Rotterdam

Staying in Rotterdam is always a good choice because you can combine a lot of activities together and not feel completely worn out. That's what we did since we had to drive all the way from the north. Here are a couple of recommendations as far as accommodation in Rotterdam is concerned.

Hostel Room - Budget
Ibis Rotterdam City Center - Budget and Central
Holiday Inn - Mid Range, Next to train station
Hilton Rotterdam - Mid Range, next to train station
Rotterdam Marriott Hotel - Luxury, Next to the train station

As you can see, there is plenty to do in the Maritime museum in Rotterdam. You can spend hours in the building and if the weather is good, you will find that there are both indoor and outdoor activities to keep you busy. It is definitely one of the best places to spend the day with kids.