Cultural history museum in a commander's house from 1751 in Hollum about whaling, island customs and Ameland furniture craftsmanship.
Through October 21, 2026
Artist Astrid Nobel combines contemporary art with Ameland heritage: a Beddebankje crafted using traditional techniques on the theme of whaling, along with paintings and sculptures made from self-made pigments, shells, bones and seawater. On view since April 2026.
Special exhibition
Small exhibition about the Hollum-born architect Willem Cornelis de Groot (1853–1939), who shaped the look of many Frisian towns and farmsteads around 1900.
The museum is housed in the so-called Sorgdragershuuske, which the whaling commander Pieter Cornelis Sorgdrager had built in Hollum in 1751. In the 18th century, Ameland supplied numerous commanders to the whaling fleets, and their wealth shaped the houses and furnishings on the island. A gate made of two whale jawbones and a harpoon cannon in the garden recall this era.
The rooms of the commander's house are furnished as they might have looked in the 18th century; one room is entirely lined with original wall tiles. The exhibition guides visitors through the island's history – from whaling and the Van Cammingha family, who long ruled Ameland as a lordship, to the customs and daily life of the islanders. A collection of Ameland furniture is on display in the attic, and further objects can be discovered in the open storage on the upper floor.
The museum is run by the Stichting De Ouwe Pôlle Ameland as part of the Stichting Amelander Musea. It also includes a changing exhibition room, where contemporary art often meets island heritage, as well as an exhibition in the adjacent barn. The offering is complemented by the Amelander Cultuurmuseum in a former church in Nes; it is considered part of Museum Sorgdrager but has its own opening hours and admission.
| Adults | €7.30 |
|---|---|
| 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). |
| Amelander Cultuurmuseum (Nes) | €3.50Separate admission; children ages 5–12 free, free with the Museumkaart. |
2026 rates. Free with the Museumkaart (have the card scanned at the desk). Tickets only at the museum ticket desk on site.
The entrance with exhibition, the changing exhibition and the permanent exhibition in the adjacent barn are wheelchair-accessible; the Sorgdrager house and the open storage on the second floor are not accessible. Dogs not allowed; recognizable assistance dogs welcome.
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
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 shop (including Harlingen tiles and ceramics).
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Art afternoon every Wednesday 14:00–16:00: alternating between a guided tour of the permanent and changing exhibitions and a talk with the artist Valta about a masterpiece of art history (with a museum ticket or Museumkaart). During the holidays, the "Free Tour Hollum" starts at the museum, a 1.5- to 2-hour walking tour of the village in Dutch (pay what you wish, register online). Groups of 15 or more by reservation only. |
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