Nederland - Enkhuisen, Zuiderzeemuseum

The Zuiderzeemuseum, located in the historic center of Enkhuizen is a well known Dutch museum preserving the maritime history and cultural heritage from around the Zuiderzee, which became IJsselmeer, after closing the Afsluitdijk (Enclosure Dam) in 1932.

The impetus for the founding of the Zuiderzeemuseum was an exhibition that was held around 1930 in Enkhuizen, where cardboard houses were displayed and costumed locals from around the Zuiderzee walked around. Due to threat of World War II the plans were put on hold. In the summer of 1949 the first exhibition - the birth of the indoor part of the museum - was set up in the Drommedaris, the 16th century defensive tower in the harbour. Due to the success of this exhibition, the Zuiderzeemuseum obtained warehouses, which once belonged to the Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie (Dutch East India Company). The Dutch government took over these buildings and restored them and maintains them until today.

The Zuiderzeemuseum consists of two parts: an indoor- and outdoor museum. The indoor museum – opened in 1950 - contains both temporary exhibitions as well as permanent artifacts. Among them a large collection of wooden ships, paintings, furniture and traditional costumes from villages around the former Zuiderzee.

The outdoor museum - opened in 1983 - is an open air museum with more than 140 authentic historic buildings, originally situated in villages around the former Zuiderzee. Most of them are the original buildings - sometimes transported in a steel frame - others are replicas. A large variety of buildings are on display: wind mill, lime kilns, fish-smoking house, steam laundry, drugstore, pharmacy, basketmaker, blacksmith, cheese warehouse, school, and hairdresser's, amongst others.