Noordelijk Scheepvaartmuseum

Giving an overview of 15 centuries of maritime history in the northern Netherlands, the excellent maritime museum is located in a magnificent medieval house near Groningen's old harbour. With themes ranging from the Hanseatic league, seafarer's souvenirs, maps, navigation to the demise of the Groningen ship construction industry in the 1950s, the museum is great fun for both adults and children. Our favourite exhibit: a large hook to poke at polar bears that come too close, found in the exhibition about the whaling expeditions between 1600 and 1800.