For the past seven months, the VOC ship Amsterdam, the replica of an East Indiaman that has been moored at the pier of Het Scheepvaartmuseum since 1991, has been under major overhaul. Now the ship has been completely refurbished and returned to its permanent location in the Oosterdok. As soon as the museum is open to the public again, the ship will be open to visitors.
Questions about VOC history
Because of its strong connection with the history of the Dutch East India Company (VOC), the ship is an important part of the museum’s educational programs. In the near future, the museum will make an inventory of questions about VOC history, which are of interest to the public and partners, in order to be able to tell new stories on board. Questions are, for example: were there enslaved people on board the Amsterdam? Are there any stories about migrants on board? Is there any information about the build of this replica? Was this a pirate ship in the past?
Major maintenance on the ship
The refurbishing of the VOC ship Amsterdam was a gigantic task. In total, more than 50 people worked on it, including a carpentry and caulking crew, painters, riggers, mast makers, contractors and dock workers. A lot of maintenance has been done. For example, the underwater ship was made watertight by hand by means of an age-old technique, caulking. Bad wood parts have also been replaced and the ship has been given a new coat of paint. In addition, the three masts, the stems and the yards of the ship have been renewed. The ship is now good for years to come and can be visited again soon.
VOC Amsterdam, National Maritime Museum, Kattenburgerplein 1