Not only is there much to see on the museum grounds in Hoorn, you’ll also feast your eyes along the way. Enjoy the ride in the nostalgic steam streetcar, admire the historic bridges and buildings along the way, and let the spectacular views from museum boat Friesland take your breath away.

Our current collection comprises some 38,000 objects, including paintings, sculptures, jewellery and utensils. Together, they tell the story of the history of Hoorn and of the Netherlands between 1500 and 1800, with the 17th century as their focal point.

Currently, our museum is undergoing renovation and is closed. The Collections department is therefore unable to handle research inquiries, documentation inquiries, appraisals, loan requests, and internship applications until mid-2024.

The Museum of the 20th Century (Museum van de 20e Eeuw) in Hoorn shows what daily life was like in the last century. It does so with thousands of items, photographs, film and sound.

Life changed a lot during the 20th century. The way people lived in the 20s was miles apart from the 80s. This museum tries to show and explain the characteristics of each decade. In the 70s, our parents sat in orange and purple interiors around a fondue set, listening to ABBA’s ‘Dancing Queen’. In contrast, our grandparents decorated their living room with heavy brown furniture and rubber plants.

The Oostereiland in the Dutch city of Hoorn is an artificial island built between 1662 and 1668. It was constructed from dams which were then raised and broadened.^[1] Soon after construction, homes and warehouses were built on the island, including a warehouse for the Admiralty of the Noorderkwartier.