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Located in the historic city of Groningen in the north of the Netherlands, the Northern Maritime Museum is a treasure trove of maritime culture full of interactive experiences. Located next to the picturesque canal, the museum is themed on the glory of Dutch Golden Age navigation, the history of North Sea fishing and modern shipping technology, and takes visitors through time and space through immersive exhibitions. If this is your first visit, you may not know where to start in the face of the rich exhibition areas - don't worry, we have selected 5 of the most distinctive exhibition areas for you to ensure that your visit is both interesting and rewarding!
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The core of this exhibition area is a replica of the East India Company merchant ship in its original proportions, allowing you to experience the legend of the Age of Exploration firsthand:
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Helming experience: Stand in the replica of the captain's room and feel the excitement of controlling a giant ship in a storm (be careful of seasickness!).
Explore the secrets of the cargo hold: Open the spice box and smell the rich aroma of cinnamon and pepper shipped back from Asia that year.
Sailor life: Try the hammock sleeping system and experience how the crew rests on the bumpy sea.
Tips: There is a "Pirates and Merchants" role-playing activity every Saturday at 11 am. Children can wear vintage costumes to participate in the treasure hunt game!
This warm and authentic exhibition area restores the life scenes of the North Sea fishing village in the early 20th century:
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Repairing fishing nets: Learn traditional weaving techniques, and you can get an "honorary fisherman" sticker after completing a section of fishing nets.
Pickling herrings: Smell the smell of the salt water barrels with a century-old recipe (careful!), and try to handle herrings with old-fashioned tools.
Storm simulator: Stand on the deck device and feel the violent shaking of the fishing boat in the 8-level wind and waves.
Fun Easter eggs: Find the "Fisherman's Riddle" drawer on the wall, and answer 3 questions correctly to unlock an animated short about local legends.
Climb up the replica of the real working lighthouse in the center of the museum, and you will find:
Lens operation: Turn the huge Fresnel lens by hand to learn how the light beam penetrates the thick fog of the North Sea.
Foghorn experience: Press the button to listen to the shocking sound of foghorns from different eras (neighbors may be shocked).
The Keeper's Diary: Flip through the electronic diary and read the lonely and romantic life recorded by the lighthouse keeper.
Best moment: Every day at sunset, the lighthouse will light up with warm yellow light, which is a great background for taking photos!
This technological exhibition area is transformed from real containers:
Loading and unloading challenge: Operate the mini crane to complete the cargo loading within 90 seconds (be careful not to fall into the "sea"!).
Route planning: Design the most fuel-efficient route for the cargo ship on the interactive map, and your plan will calculate the carbon emissions in real time.
Smuggling Detection: Use an X-ray machine to scan containers to find hidden contraband (hint: pay attention to the suspicious box of bananas!).
Hidden gameplay: Find the container marked "BONUS" and enter the password "GRONINGEN" to pop up a limited edition commemorative badge.
In this imaginative exhibition area, you can:
Design floating houses: Build your maritime community on the touch screen, and the system will evaluate the ability to resist wind and waves.
Clean Ocean Game: Control drones to collect virtual plastic garbage, and points can be exchanged for environmentally friendly gifts.
Holographic Conference: Talk to "Future Engineers" to learn about the latest breakthroughs in tidal power generation.
Surprise link: Every Sunday at 3 pm, the "Creative Workshop" can make your own miniature sailboat with recycled plastic.
The Northern Maritime Museum is not only a place to display the history of navigation, but also an interactive park where the whole family can have fun. From the adventures of the golden age to the conception of the future port, these 5 special exhibition areas will take you to a complete experience of the story of mankind and the ocean. It is recommended to set aside 2-3 hours, wear clothes that are easy to move around in (some experiences require bending or climbing), and don’t forget to taste the special "sea salt caramel waffle" in the museum cafe at the end - it is shaped like a small fishing boat, which is the perfect ending! Are you ready to start your sailing adventure?