Volendam Museum Tickets
About this activity
- Your booking is confirmed instantly
- This option has FREE cancellation: book it without any risk!
Experience Highlights
Discover the essence of fishing and the most picturesque iconography of the Zuiderzee at the Volendam Museum, located just a stone's throw from the harbour and the multicoloured wooden houses that have made this former fishing village famous. Among models of dykes, early 20th century photographs and traditional hand-embroidered costumes, you will understand how the identity of this Dutch region facing the IJsselmeer was forged.
Your 'skip the line' ticket gives you direct access to the exhibition rooms and the extraordinary 'Cigar Mosaic', a collage of almost 11 million tobacco rings depicting biblical and seafaring scenes. During the visit, an audio guide in Spanish, English, German and Dutch (downloadable to your mobile phone) accompanies you with anecdotes about the museum.During the visit, an audio guide in Spanish, English, German and Dutch (downloadable on your mobile phone) accompanies you with anecdotes about herring fishing, the construction of the polders and the history of the taverns filled with folk music.
The museum is open daily from 10:00 to 17:00 and the tour takes 60-90 minutes to complete. Admission is free for children under 5 and family discounts are available.
- Secure your ticket and save time at the ticket office.
- Immerse yourself in local culture with costumes, photos and folk art.
- Admire the spectacular mosaic of 11 million cigarette rings
What’s included
- Skip the line entrance to Volendam Museum
- Downloadable audio guide (ES, EN, DE, NL) with interactive maps
- Access to all permanent rooms and the "Cigar Mosaic".
- Use of lockers and lounge area with free wifi
Select date
Step by Step
The tour starts with a series of black and white photographs depicting the daily life of the fishermen before the great closure of the Zuiderzee by the Afsluitdijk in 1932. Between nets hung out to dry and botter boats moored at the quay, the audio guide explains how the sea was gradually transformed into a lake and what impact it had on the local economy.
In the Costume Room you will discover the intricate embroidery and distinctive lace caps that are still worn today at Volendam's Costume Day celebrations. Life-size mannequins show the evolution of men's and women's clothing from 1850 to the present day, with the blue striped shirt and the iconic red sailor's scarf standing out.
Moving along a corridor set to the sounds of seagulls and creaking masts, you come to the amazing "Cigar Mosaic": a 27 m² mural patiently created between 1947 and 1949 by four local craftsmen. In the dim light, the ochre, green and blue colours of the rings recreate sailing boats, silver fish and biblical passages such as the miraculous catch of fish.
The tour ends in a reconstruction of a typical Volendamese living room: dark wooden furniture, Delft tiles with naval scenes and the classic iron cooker where herring was smoked. Before leaving, you can stop at the small shop to buy vintage postcards, reproductions of traditional costumes or smoked eel preserves, perfect for taking a little piece of the Zuiderzee home with you.
