50 years of Museum ‘t Kromhout: Discover the power of propulsion on water

June 14, 2025 Museum ‘t Kromhout celebrates its 50th anniversary with a major maritime event. Visitors are taken on a time travel through the evolution of ship propulsion: from muscle and wind power to the latest innovations in electric and hydrogen. This anniversary year ties in with the celebration of 750 years of Amsterdam, in which the city has always been connected to water and shipping.

The Kromhout Engine: From ships to pumping stations and agricultural machinery
Museum ‘t Kromhout has a legendary collection of Kromhout engines. Originally developed for ships, this engine, due to its robustness and reliability, was also used in trucks, buses pumping stations, agricultural vehicles and in industrial applications. The engines played a crucial role in modernizing transportation and water management in the Netherlands and abroad. During the event visitors can see historic Kromhout engines in action and discover how this iconic technology formed the basis for today’s innovations in ship propulsion

A day of maritime experiences
On June 14, 2025, Museum ‘t Kromhout will open its doors for an interactive and family-friendly celebration. The theme of this day is the development of ship engines and energy transitions: from the first steam engines and diesel engines to today’s sustainable alternatives. This will be brought to life in a unique way with historic ships and modern vessels on the quay, demonstrations and interactive activities.

Program highlights:

*Experience muscle power on the water: Experience forgotten techniques like prying and sail along on playful muscle-powered boats.
*100 years of energy transition: See how the developments of yesteryear are repeating themselves in the transition to electric and hydrogen.
*Discover canal history: From the classic saloon boat to modern sustainable canal boats.
* Stories from the life of the boatman: Listen to fascinating stories about life on board and the social impact on the neighborhood.
* Children’s activities: Build your own mini propulsion system or compete in a rowing race.
* Maritime Walks: Discover the historic shipbuilding of the Eastern Islands and Amsterdam’s maritime past.

Museum ‘t Kromhout has been dedicated to the preservation of maritime history and maritime innovation for 50 years.
With this anniversary we are making history alive, tangible and interactive. From the craft of ship engineering to the latest developments in ship propulsion: the past and the future of the maritime world come together here.

Come to Museum ‘t Kromhout on June 14 and discover how Amsterdam and shipping have gone hand in hand for 750 years.