Museum ’t Behouden Huys

About the museum

The houses on the Commandeurstraat were built in 1668, two years after the English had burned West-Terschelling to the ground. Wealthy commanders of the whaling fleet lived here. The left-hand commander's house still has its old room layout with box beds and two fireplaces.

The museum's history begins in 1938 with the founding of a foundation whose name recalls Willem Barentsz, the overwintering explorer from Terschelling, and at the same time the preservation of the island's heritage. After the war, during which the collection was hidden in attics, in the church and with private individuals, the municipality bought the house at Commandeurstraat 32 in 1950; the municipal museum opened in 1952. In 1954, the neighboring house no. 30 was added, in 1985 an extension reaching to the Westerbuurstraat. In 2017, no. 28 was added, the entrance, cloakroom and toilets were rebuilt, and the house was made accessible to people with walking difficulties; since then it has also been a Historical Center.

Using projections and animations, the museum tells of the lives of farmers, fishermen, merchants, beachcombers and castaways, of whaling and polar voyages, of the town fire of 1666 and of the sinking of the Lutine in 1799. In the museum garden stands a replica of the "Behouden Huys", Barentsz's overwintering hut.

Highlights

• Commanders' houses of 1668 with box beds and fireplaces
• Polar voyages of Willem Barentsz with a rebuilt "Behouden Huys" in the garden
• Sinking of the Lutine in 1799 as a walk-through wreck with narrator John Rogers
• Whaling, fishing, the town fire of 1666 and island life
• Audio tour in three languages and in the three island dialects

Permanent exhibitions

• Poolreizen Willem Barentsz – Tells of the polar voyages of Willem Barentsz of Terschelling; in the museum garden stands a replica of the "Behouden Huys".
• La Lutine – The sinking of the gold-laden ship Lutine off Terschelling on October 9, 1799, told from the perspective of the sole survivor, John Rogers.
• Walvisvaart – On whaling, which made the commanders of Terschelling wealthy men.

Founded

1938

Operated by

Gemeinde Terschelling

Admission & discounts

Free admission with Museumkaart; residents of Terschelling with a Bootspas also have free admission.

Accessibility

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

The entire ground floor is accessible to wheelchair users and people with walking difficulties, and there are places to sit in several rooms; the exhibitions on the upper floors are harder to reach because of the stairs. An audio tour is available for visually impaired visitors. Dogs are also welcome in the museum.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide

For children there is the voyage of discovery with Willem Barentsz, a polar bear hunt through the museum and the Lutine wreck; the wreck is only accessible to children over 9 years old.

Getting there & parking

The museum is a few steps from the harbor and the shopping streets of West-Terschelling; it is signposted from the Havenplein.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Coat check

Museum shop with Terschelling books, games, posters and souvenirs, accessible during opening hours without an admission ticket; there is also an online shop.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit