Museum Kaap Skil

About the museum

Museum Kaap Skil in Oudeschild began as a one-off exhibition of finds collected by divers and beachcombers (Jutters). The success was so great that a permanent home was sought: in 1981 the Maritiem & Jutters Museum was founded as the predecessor of today’s museum. Gradually, themes such as fishing, crafts and old ships were added. When the museum received a new entrance building designed by the firm Mecanoo in 2014, the name was changed as well: a “Kaap” is a sea mark, and “Skil” is the Texel name for Oudeschild.

The focus is on the Texel Roadstead, which from the 16th to the 18th century was one of the largest anchorages in the world. Merchant and war ships waited there for favourable winds, and in storms quite a few sank, so that dozens of wrecks still lie on the seabed off the island today. The finds recovered by divers and fishermen form the core of the collection; the star is the Palmwood wreck with a silver beaker, toilet set and well-preserved textiles, including a silk dress. In the entrance building, the world’s largest maritime scale model brings the roadstead of around 1660 to life.

Outside is the open-air museum with a reconstructed village street along the Skilsloot, in which fishermen’s cottages, a bakery and a smithy show life in the former fishing village. It also includes the working grain mill De Traanroeier of 1727, two 19th-century brick warehouses, a seagrass barn and a lifeboat shed of 1824. From May to October craftspeople such as net menders, rope makers and the blacksmith demonstrate their work. The museum belongs to the Stichting Texels Museum, which also includes Ecomare and Vuurtoren Eierland.

Highlights

• Palmwood wreck with a silver beaker, toilet set and a 17th-century silk dress
• World’s largest maritime scale model of the Texel Roadstead
• Open-air museum with fishermen’s cottages, bakery and smithy
• Working grain mill De Traanroeier of 1727
• Children’s experience “Het Gezonken Scheepswrak”
• Jutterij with beach finds and Open Depot with underwater finds

Permanent exhibitions

• Palmhoutwrak – Finds from a richly laden 17th-century shipwreck, including a silver wedding dress, a silk dress, a gilded silver beaker and a toilet set.
• Wereldreis – Wreck finds from the Wadden Sea tell of 17th-century trading voyages that ended unexpectedly off Texel.
• Schip in Zicht – De Reede van Texel en de Wereld – The world’s largest maritime scale model shows the Texel Roadstead, complemented by digital stories about 160 ships.

Founded

1981

Operated by

Stichting Texels Museum

Admission & discounts

2026 prices. Free with Museumkaart (also available at the ticket desk) and VriendenLoterij VIP Kaart. Residents of Texel can apply to the municipality for a personal museum card that gives free admission to all museums on the island.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum is largely accessible to people with reduced mobility. With a disabled parking permit you can park at the entrance, where there are two disabled parking spaces. Dogs are not allowed, except assistance dogs.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations

Voted a “Kidsproof” museum by children in 2024. In the “Gezonken Scheepswrak” children can explore a replica wreck like divers, and in the open-air museum try old games such as stilt walking and hoop rolling; there are also hands-on activities in the exhibitions and an activity programme during the holidays.

Getting there & parking

Space for bicycles on the pavement in front of the museum is limited; if the parking area is full, bikes can be left at the Vlamkast car park.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Museum café and museum shop with maritime souvenirs and books; the shop is accessible without a museum visit.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit