Museumwerf Vreeswijk
Inland shipping museum on an active historic shipyard in Vreeswijk, with a museum harbour, boat tours and a Theehuys tea house on the water.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Museumwerf lies on the waterfront of the Vaartse Rijn in the former skippers' village of Vreeswijk, a hub of centuries-old waterways and long a centre of inland shipping. It occupies the grounds of the former Buitenweg shipyard. Adrianus Buitenweg took over a shipbuilding business in 1856; when the yard at the Old Lock became too small, the family moved further north to the Vaartse Rijn in the early 20th century.
Wooden ships were repaired there at first; after the First World War the yard switched to iron ships. After the Second World War a new slipway for sideways launching, workshops for steel and wood and an engine workshop were added. The fourth generation ran the business until environmental regulations became too strict and large ships could no longer be serviced. The municipality bought the yard, which now serves as the Museumwerf.
The museum tells the story of Dutch inland shipping, the waterways and the region; the yard continues to operate and offers its facilities to owners of older ships. The site includes a visitor centre, an exhibition room, a museum harbour with historic ships, tour boats and the Theehuys.
Highlights
- Active historic shipyard with a slipway for sideways launching and workshops
- Visitor centre with models of the skippers' village of Vreeswijk around 1915
- Roef (skipper's cabin) from the Tjalk Labor Sanitas
- Museum harbour with historic inland vessels
- Boat tours through Nieuwegein on museum boats
Permanent exhibitions
- Besucherzentrum und Ausstellungszentrum Binnenvaart – Models and panels on the skippers' village of Vreeswijk, plus an overview of ship types, construction and propulsion in historic inland shipping.
- Freiluftmuseum: Roef, Westlander und Hagenaar – Skipper's cabin from the Tjalk Labor Sanitas with stories told by skippers' wives, plus ships being fitted out as exhibition spaces (including one for old ship engines).
- Operated by
- Stichting Museumwerf Vreeswijk
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €6 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 12 · Children up to and including age 12 free |
| Groups (10+ people) | €12 per personMuseum with guided tour including coffee/tea in the Theehuys, minimum 10 paying visitors; book the tour at least two weeks in advance. |
The €6 admission includes a cup of coffee or tea.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 12 |
|---|
- Hands-on stations
Children will find interactive, educational elements in the museum room; children up to 12 get free admission.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Museumwerf Vreeswijk
Bus line 65, stop Museumwerf Vreeswijk.
By car
Parking available
Visitor centre serves as the entrance on the Wierselaan; car park on site.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
Theehuys with a terrace on the water, run by volunteers; Schipperscafé on the last Friday of the month.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Private parties
- Corporate events
- Weddings / ceremonies
The Theehuys is an official wedding venue and is suitable for anniversaries, celebrations and company outings; enquiries to theehuys@museumwerf.nl.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Guided tours on request, at least two weeks in advance, for ten or more paying visitors (€12 incl. coffee/tea in the Theehuys). Schools can book tours tailored to their age group. Boat tours: reservations on +31 6 1395 8640 (weekdays 10 a.m.–12 p.m. and 2–4 p.m.). |
