Edams Museum

About the museum

Edams Museum is one of the oldest museums in North Holland and tells the story of the town on the former shore of the Zuiderzee: from shipbuilding and ceramics production to architecture, patrician families and the everyday life of its citizens.

Its main building is the Steenen Coopmanshuys on the Damplein, the oldest stone house in Edam. The late Gothic merchant's house was built between 1540 and 1550 and was given a magnificent interior in the 17th century, which has hardly changed to this day. The town bought the dilapidated building in 1893 and had it restored under the direction of Pierre Cuypers; it has welcomed visitors since 1895. Its famous floating cellar, a container drifting in the groundwater, is considered the only one of its kind open to the public in the Netherlands.

The museum also includes the upper floor of the town hall of 1737 with the mayor's room. The collection is wide-ranging and includes paintings, ceramics, archaeological finds, furniture and all sorts of curiosities. In the permanent exhibitions, a map by Joan Blaeu guides visitors through the town's history, and another section is devoted to the seafaring of the people of Edam. The museum is run by around 70 volunteers.

Highlights

• Floating cellar in the Coopmanshuys
• Late Gothic merchant's house (1540–1550) with a 17th-century interior
• “Edam in 14 stappen”: the town's history told through a Blaeu map
• “Zeevarend Edam” with ship models and seafaring paintings
• Town hall of 1737 with the mayor's room

Permanent exhibitions

• Edam in 14 stappen – Permanent exhibition on the first floor of the Coopmanshuys that uses a richly detailed map by Joan Blaeu to explore many aspects of the town; with an audio tour in Dutch and English.
• Zeevarend Edam – 2025 extension on the seafaring of the people of Edam, who sailed on merchant ships, fishing boats and whalers, and for the VOC, the WIC and the Admiralty; with paintings, ship models and stories, also available as a QR audio tour.

Founded

1895

Operated by

Stichting Het Edams Museum

Admission & discounts

Free with the Museumkaart, the Rembrandt Card (Vereniging Rembrandt) and the museum's friends' card. Payment by card only (PIN, Mastercard, Visa); no cash.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Both listed buildings have many thresholds, narrow passages and steep stairs and are not suitable for wheelchairs.

Kids & families

There is a dedicated educational programme for school classes and children, in which they discover the museum through play (details on the website).

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

Museum garden with a bench. The booklet for the “Nieuwenkamproute” (a walking tour of the town) is available in the Coopmanshuys for €2.50.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit