Skûtsjemuseum

About the museum

The museum was initiated by Age Veldboom, who had collected many old parts and equipment from skûtsjes at his sailing school and wanted to remind younger generations of the heritage of the wooden sailing freighters. In 1996 the site was acquired and the harbour dug out, construction began in 1997, and on 1 June 1998 the museum opened its doors in the De Stripe business park in Earnewâld.

The building follows the model of a Frisian shipyard hall (skûthûs) made of black-tarred planks with a red tiled roof and small white windows. Inside, workshops such as the smithy and the sailmaker's show how a skûtsje was built; there are also ship models, a large photo collection, film footage with skippers of the past and present, and a library with the yard books of the well-known shipbuilder Eeltje Holtrop van der Zee. Three cabins (roefs) convey the cramped life on board around 1900, when the ships carried peat, terp soil, manure and sand under sail. The present-day races of the skûtsje competitions SKS and IFKS are also covered.

Museum ships lie at the quay: since 2009 the wooden replica "Æbelina" of 1861, since October 2021 the iron skûtsje "Risico" of 1922 and since May 2023 the restored "Dorp Grouw". The museum is run by around 55 volunteers of the Stichting Skûtsjemuseum Earnewâld foundation.

Highlights

• Shipyard-hall building with smithy, sailmaker's and roefs
• Museum ships "Æbelina" (replica of 1861), "Risico" (1922) and "Dorp Grouw"
• Yard books of the shipbuilder Eeltje Holtrop van der Zee
• Free audio tour on your own smartphone
• Location by the De Alde Feanen National Park

Permanent exhibitions

• Skûthûs und Werkstätten – The smithy, sailmaker's and leeboard maker's workshop show the crafts of skûtsje building around 1900; also a library with old yard books.
• Leben an Bord – In three cabins visitors experience the cramped life of the skippers; films and audio recordings let skippers of the past and present have their say.
• Museumsschiffe – The skûtsjes "Æbelina", "Risico" and "Dorp Grouw" lie at the museum; "Risico" can be visited during opening hours.

Founded

1998

Operated by

Stichting Skûtsjemuseum Earnewâld

Admission & discounts

The Museumkaart is not valid at the Skûtsjemuseum. Coffee, tea and soft drinks cost €2 each.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

For school classes there are hands-on stations such as hoisting sails, knots, the smithy and play in the cabin; the digital learning pack "Pake syn Skûtsje" is free of charge.

Getting there & parking

The museum is located in the De Stripe business park in Earnewâld near the De Alde Feanen National Park; the museum ships lie at the quay next to and behind the museum.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Coffee, tea and soft drinks are available in the reception room (Schipperskroeg); there is also a museum shop.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit