On board or on the quayside: three ways to see maritime heritage
Mercuur in Vlissingen and Hudson in Maassluis welcome visitors as museum ships; Museumhaven Gouda presents a harbour of historic vessels.
There is more than one way to encounter an old ship. On a museum ship, you go aboard to explore its spaces and story. In a museum harbour, you can view a collection of vessels from the quayside. A ship’s history at sea, or even its ability to sail, does not mean visitors can join a voyage. Mercuur, Hudson and Museumhaven Gouda show why the distinction matters.
Mercuur lies in the Dok van Perry in Vlissingen. Built in the United States as an ocean minesweeper, she first served the Dutch navy as Hr.Ms. Onverschrokken. In 1971–1972 she was converted into a torpedo support ship and renamed Hr.Ms. Mercuur. After she was decommissioned in 1987, volunteers and foundations saved her from demolition; she has been a museum ship in Vlissingen since 2017.
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Hudson, in the inner harbour of Maassluis, tells a different story. This motor-powered sea tug was built in 1939. She left Maassluis in April 1940 and did not return until 1945. The foundation that runs the museum ship has restored the vessel as closely as possible to its authentic condition.
For a walk among ships, head to Museumhaven Gouda. The harbour describes itself as an open-air museum of historic working vessels. From the public quayside, you can compare their shapes, purposes and stories. Access to the harbour does not automatically grant access aboard individual vessels.
Mercuur and Hudson are museum ships in Vlissingen and Maassluis; in Gouda the route follows the historic harbour.