Het Scheepvaartmuseum: Museum in Kattenburg, Amsterdam

Het Scheepvaartmuseum is the national maritime museum in Amsterdam, in a former naval storehouse on the water at Kattenburgerplein. You go for centuries of maps, paintings and navigation instruments, and to climb aboard the replica of the VOC ship Amsterdam moored outside. The building, 's Lands Zeemagazijn, was finished in 1656 to a design by Daniël Stalpaert. The museum moved in during 1973 and reopened in October 2011 after a four-year renovation, which put a glass roof over the courtyard, its pattern taken from the compass roses and rhumb lines on old nautical charts. The courtyard is now the Open Plein, with coffee and lunch. Republiek aan Zee shows 50 highlights from the 17th and 18th centuries. Families are well catered for. Children can climb around the ship, look inside a life-size whale in Het Verhaal van de Walvis (6+), or visit Duiker Doris, made for ages 2 and up. There is a free junior audio tour, and extra activities every school holiday. Most of the museum is wheelchair accessible by lift, though mobility scooters are not allowed. Entry is cashless, and the museum closes on King's Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.