Maritime and lifesaving museum in Hollum, starting point of the famous demonstrations of the Ameland horse-drawn lifeboat.
Special exhibition
For the KNRM's 200th anniversary, photographs by Jantina Scheltema and Jordy van den Berg portray lifeboat crews past and present; plus works by Robin de Puy and Jeroen Hofman and the role Ameland played in founding the rescue society.
Special exhibition
Finds from shipwrecks around Ameland, recovered with the Zeester diving club from Lauwersoog, complemented by the glass artwork "Vliegtuig Ramp" by Jacqueline Metz-Mosterman commemorating a World War II aircrew.
The Maritiem Centrum in Hollum is named after Abraham Fock (1793–1858), who was involved in founding a forerunner of today's KNRM (Royal Netherlands Sea Rescue Institution); the island's lifeboat also bears his name. Ameland played an important role in the emergence of organized sea rescue, and the station in Hollum became one of the best known in the country. From 1824 to 1988, horses pulled the lifeboat through the surf into the sea here.
The museum was set up around the preserved boathouse and has existed in its current form since the early 1990s. It displays collections on navigation, maritime radio and rescue operations; on a replica ship's bridge, visitors can take command themselves. The old lantern room of the Ameland lighthouse, removed in 1988, sits on the roof. The horses that pull the lifeboat during the demonstrations are kept in the stable.
Around twelve to fourteen times a year, the demonstration of the Paardenreddingboot (horse-drawn lifeboat) sets off from the museum: ten horses pull the boat to the beach southwest of Hollum and out into the water. Volunteer horse handlers, beach crew and boat crew keep this tradition alive. In 2024, the museum and the horse-drawn lifeboat took second place in the VriendenLoterij Museumprijs. The museum is run by the Stichting Paardenreddingboot Ameland as part of the Stichting Amelander Musea; a multi-year redesign of the museum and outdoor grounds is in preparation.
| Adults | €7.30 |
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| Children & teens | €5.80Children ages 5–12 €5.80, adult rate from age 13; no rate is given for children under 5. |
| Seniors | –No senior discount listed. |
| Students & apprentices | –No student discount listed. |
| Groups (15+ people) | €6.30 per personFrom 15 people; children (ages 5–12) €5.30. Reservations required for groups (info@amelandermusea.nl). |
2026 rates. Free with the Museumkaart (have the card scanned at the desk). Tickets only at the museum ticket desk on site. The horse-drawn lifeboat demonstrations are free; a collection is taken for the Stichting Paardenreddingboot (cash or via QR code).
Only the entrance area with exhibition, the changing exhibition and the permanent exhibition in the adjacent barn are wheelchair-accessible. Dogs not allowed; recognizable assistance dogs welcome (please notify staff).
Great for kids & families
On the replica ship's bridge, visitors can play captain; in the stable, you can meet the rescue horses and their handlers. VVV Ameland describes the museum as appealing to young and old alike.
Arriva bus line 130 (ferry terminal – Nes – Ballum – Hollum) to Hollum.
Ameland is reachable by ferry from Holwerd (arriving in Nes); on the island, cycling is the usual way to get around.
Get directionsMuseum café and museum shop (refurbished in 2024).
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
| Good to know | Paardenreddingboot demonstrations about 12 to 14 times a year from the museum, with the launch on the beach southwest of Hollum; remaining dates in 2026: Sat, October 17 at 15:00 and Tue, December 29 at 14:00 (subject to change). Groups of 15 or more by reservation only. |
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