Houseboats Museums, Amsterdam

The WoonBoot Museum is a little houseboat dedicated to "how they used to live". It was once a commercial sailing ship built in 1914. It really is quaint and even has a little video area (can't remember what it was showing though!). It was only 2.50E when we went.

It's amazing how they could live, work and raise a family of 10 kids and care for their ageing grandparents in a space no bigger than the average saloon car. They all slept in a cupboard bed and during the day the kids would play with the coal in the cargo hold while mum and dad scrubbed decks, heaved and hoiked tons of coal around probably worked themselves to an early grave. (Ignore this last paragraph it's just my imagination :))

They serve tea , coffee and soft drinks and you can buy postcards and souvenirs in the Museumwinkel - Mrs WoonBoot wouldn't believe her eyes.

This is a former sailing vessel, from this boat, you can experience the life on the canals in this THE ONE AND ONLY houseboat Museum in the world. it is located the Prinsengracht canal in the central disctrict Jordaan which only takes five minutes walk from the Anne Frank House and it's near to Westerkerk church. You can see sleeping bunk, sizable livingroom, kitchen and bathroom. Do you like such a house?

Get an idea what its like to live on water at this museum a sailing barge built in 1914
Houseboats toilets used to drain directly into the canal until this century - yuchk now you need to hook up to the sewage system. As so many people live in Amsterdam living on houseboats is a way to combat the housing shortage - legal houseboat owners are linked to electricity & gas.

Entrance as at 2009 Adult Euro 3.50 Child Eur2.75
Open 11am - 5pm Wed - Sun March - Oct
Fri - Sun Nov - Feb

The houseboat museum is housed in a former commercial sailing ship built in 1914, moored on Prinsengracht. The deckhouse where the skipper's family resided (including the cupboard bed) is still in place. There are ship models, photos, and a slideshow. Tea, coffee and soft drinks are available.

It is open in 2008 March to October, Tuesday through Sunday 1100 - 1700. (Closed on a few days - see website). In the winter it is open less (see website).

Adult admission is 3.25 euro.

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Owner Vincent van Loon opened up this houseboat museum when he thought it would answer many questions on what life on a houseboat was like. This is really like visiting a friend or someone you know on their houseboat and soft drinks and coffeee are available for you to sit and have your drink in the living area on the boat. The boat was built in 1914 and is the Hendrika Maria and it was once a cargo carrier in Holland.
In 2008 the living area was redesigned to that of a 1950s boat interior and it is very successful. There is an audio tour and slides that explain life on a boat such as this as well as a small souvenier shop.
Admittance is down 5 steps and care must be taken - for this reason it is not suitable for disabled people.

This museum gives you a taste of what it is like to live in one of the many houseboats you see along the canals of Amsterdam. You will be surprised by how much room there is. Entry is €3 and you are given a short guide to this particular boat. Worth the 1hr.

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*The Houseboat Museum is situated on the "Hendrika Maria", a former freighter, built in 1914. Up and till the 1960s the boat primarily transported sand and gravel, after which time it was converted into a houseboat; whilst maintaining its outward historic appearance. The "Hendrika Maria" has housed people for more than twenty years now.

El museo casa flotante se encuentra en el "Hendrika Maria", que inicialmente fue un barco de carga construido en 1914. Hasta los años sesenta del siglo pasado, el barco se usaba para la carga de arena y grava. Después fue reconstruido para convertirlo en una vivienda. El aspecto histórico del barco todavía está presente. "Hendrika Maria" fue habitado durante más de 20 años. Hoy en día parece como si sus habitantes sólo se hubieran ausentado un momento para hacer la compra.

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Not just a museum about Amsterdam's houseboats - a museum ON an Amsterdam houseboat. Which is its main charm.

I also liked the short video of houseboat life in the big city. There's something romantic about a houseboat - uncomfortable, too, no doubt! But I'm only 5'6", so its not that uncomfortable for me. There's something odd about see really tall Dutch people straining to remember to duck on these boats!

By the way, the name in Dutch is "Woonbootmuseum".

This was very close to where I was renting a houseboat so I went by for a photo---there was a festival going on in Jordaan Park which is kind of behind the boat ----lots of local music and food---but the museum was open for folks interested in how houseboats work and so forth---my advice is rent a houseboat for your stay instead of a hotel room and you won't have to visit this place! Otherwise, it is located at Prinsengracht 296 so check out the website for hours and prices----

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A look inside a houseboat.
On board you get a good idea of what the special life style so unique to Amsterdam is.
It’s splendid located in the Prinsengracht canal on the edge of the Jordaan. Only a five minutes walk from the Anna Frank house and the nearby Westerkerk church.
The museum has been established on the Hendrika Maria, a former commercial sailing ship built in 1914.
The deckhouse, where the skippers family resided, including the cupboard bed, is still in place.
The former cargo hold has now been converted into a comfortable living space and provided with all conveniences.
Ship models, photos and a slide presentation complete th picture.
You will be amazed about the space and comfort aboard.
You find also some photos of ships for sale, so if you love this kind of living, maybe you find a boat situated at one of the canals that suites you!