Museumhaven Gouda

About the museum

For a long time Gouda lay on one of the busiest waterways in the Netherlands, and the lock at the Mallegat was among the busiest in the country. The Museumhaven Gouda foundation builds on this harbour history: it manages a harbour for historic working vessels whose types were built between 1900 and 1950 and (very probably) sailed in South Holland, with the aim of preserving this floating cultural heritage.

Around twenty vessels, from sailing ships to tugboats, lie in the Turfsingel and in the turning basin in front of the Mallegatsluis. They are inhabited and cannot be visited, but can be viewed from the quay; information boards tell their stories. On the small yard with the Werfhuijs and a harbour crane, the skippers work on their boats, partly using traditional craft techniques such as riveting and forging.

By the harbour stands the IJsselhuis, a skippers’ waiting room built in 1912 and today a café-restaurant with a terrace. With experience routes, teaching boxes for schools and short films in which skippers talk about life on board, the foundation also brings the subject to visitors and school classes.

Highlights

• Around twenty seaworthy historic working vessels from the period 1900–1950
• Werfhuijs with harbour crane, where skippers practise traditional crafts
• IJsselhuis, a skippers’ waiting room from 1912, now a café-restaurant with a view of the harbour
• Three experience routes in Dutch and English, usable around the clock
• Free admission, harbour accessible at any time

Permanent exhibitions

• Varend erfgoed: historische Berufsschiffe – Twenty seaworthy sailing, motor and tug boats from the period before 1950 lie at the quay; information boards tell the story of each one.
• Werfhuijs und Werftgelände – On the small yard, skippers maintain their boats, partly using traditional techniques such as riveting and forging; a harbour crane lifts leeboards and tenders.

Operated by

Stichting Museumhaven Gouda

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Visiting the museum harbour is free of charge.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide

Children’s route “Op jacht in de haven” for 6 to 12-year-olds with a puzzle, spotlight knots and a ship’s engine; free admission.

Getting there & parking

The vessels lie in the Turfsingel and in the turning basin in front of the Mallegatsluis; adjoining streets are Buurtje, Schielands Hoge Zeedijk, Bogen, Vest and Turfsingel. The IJsselhuis (Schielands Hoge Zeedijk 1) is the recommended starting point; the Werfhuijs is at Vest 252.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant

Café-restaurant IJsselhuis with a terrace by the harbour (Thursday 5–11 pm, Friday 3–11 pm, Saturday 10 am–11 pm, Sunday 10 am–6 pm).

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit