Noordelijk Scheepvaartmuseum

Library

The library of the Noordelijk Scheepvaartmuseum has a large collection of maritime reference books and scientific and technical publications. Beside the more common maritime reference books many volumes in the library deal with the specific maritime history of the North of the Netherlands. The most important subjects covered in the library are shipbuilding, peat-shipping, inland navigation and coastal navigation.

A large part of the museum’s library can be found at Maritiem Digitaal (link). New data is regularly being added to this database.

Make an appointment
In our museum-library you can do research on ship-building, ships or sailors.

You can make an appointment by calling the research-department (Tuesday, Wednesday en Thursday), telephone number (050) 312 22 02 or send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Send us your question in advance
It’s recommendable to send us your question in advance. Preferably by via e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by sending a letter. We will try to prepare the answer to your question. The books or archive-materials need will be handed to you by one of our employees.

The most important reference-books about maritime history research in our library
* Bouma, G.N., Nederlandse Koopvaardijschepen 1820 t/m 1900. 2nd edition! This book contains a compilation from the books of Sweys, de shipping lists of mr. Sluijs and the volumes of ‘Staat der Nederlandsche Zeemacht en Koopvaardijvloot’. This information is arranged by ship-names
* Bureau Veritas Registre, 1901-1978.
* Det Norske Veritas Register, 1931, 1939, 1948, 1950-1998.
* Germanischer Lloyd, 1908, 1910, 1932, 1956 and 1972.
* Lloyd's Register of Shipping, 1909-2000 (a few volumes are missing)
* Moormans Jaarboek voor Scheepvaart en Scheepsbouw, 1923 - 1971 (complete). These books give information on shipbuilding activities during thes years.
* Staat der Nederlandsche Zeemacht en Koopvaardijvloot, 1902, 1908-1917, 1919, 1920, 1922, 1923, 1925- 1933, 1936 t/m 1938 en 1941. Alphabetically orderd lists of ships of the Dutch mechant- and navy fleet.
* Sweys' Neêrlands Vloot en Rederijen, 1858 t/m 1906. The main source of information on Dutch sailing merchant ships in the 19th century.

 
Some important magazines in the library
* De Blauwe Wimpel, 1946 - present day
* De Zee, zeevaartkundig tijdschrift, 1879-1971
* Het Nederlandsche Zeewezen, 1902-1918, 1920, 1921
* Marineblad, 1886-1940
* Mariners Mirror, 1911-1983
* Mededelingen van de Nederlandse Vereniging voor Zeegeschiedenis, 1964-1981, from 1982 onwards called:  
* Tijdschrift voor Zeegeschiedenis, 1982- heden
* Onze Vloot, 1928-1959
* Schip en Werf, 1934-1939, 1941-1951, 1953-1984, sinds 1990: Schip en Werf en de Zee, 1993-heden
* Technisch Vakblad voor de Noordelijk Scheepsbouw, 1936-1968
* Vaktechnisch Tijdschrift voor de Kleine Handelsvaart, 1953-1966, 1972, 1975

For further research also see pages: Archives, Photocollection and Shipbuilding drawings