The draft design for the renovation of Museum Batavialand is complete. Local residents and museum staff were given the scoop yesterday. The design gives the ship the Batavia a prominent place; together with the new entrance building, it will form the heart of the museum. The enormous vessel will be brought ashore for this purpose this year. The new museum is expected to open to the public at the end of 2028.
The draft design by architectural firm De Zwarte Hond and engineering firm Arup emphasizes an open and accessible atmosphere. The new entrance building, exhibition spaces, traditional shipyards, and ships form a cohesive whole. This complex will also include a conservation corridor and new storage facilities, where Museum Batavialand will conduct its activities as the National Ship Archaeological Depot and manager of the national maritime archaeological collection.
The presented draft design is the first step in the design process, which will certainly last until after the summer. Preparatory work on site will begin soon.
What makes the new museum distinctive?
The renovation isn't just about expanding the square footage, but also about cohesion. While the shipyard and the museum are currently separated by a road, a single shared space will soon form the heart of the museum. Everything will be connected by a continuous narrative, with the seabed as the central thread. The ship Batavia will serve as a central landmark.
The stories of shipwrecks, the reclamation of the polder, archaeological discoveries, and historical crafts are fully realized in the new, contemporary presentation. New techniques and insights from recent research deepen these stories, allowing them to be experienced in a compelling way. The presentation will have a layered design, structured thematically, and enhanced by the content.
Visitors will soon be able to determine their own route and wander freely between past and present. Shipwrecks are displayed in an accessible way, while visitors can simultaneously observe the work of researchers and craftspeople in the conservation area and depots.
National and provincial
Museum Batavialand will become a national and provincial museum in one; a unique combination only possible in Flevoland. This will give The Story of Flevoland a fully-fledged platform, where visitors can experience firsthand the power of Flevoland. As the National Ship Archaeological Depot, the museum will grow into a significant institution for the preservation, research, and presentation of maritime archaeology.
Always open, always moving
Initial construction work will begin soon. Museum Batavialand will remain open to the public as much as possible during construction. Anyone wishing to see the Batavia in the water can do so until the relocation later this year. The museum is currently investigating whether and how the Batavia can remain accessible to visitors after the relocation.
Investment by the national government, province, municipality and museum
The Province of Flevoland, the national government (Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands), the municipality of Lelystad, and Museum Batavialand are collaborating on this project. The renovation is made possible by an investment of €18,37 million and the contribution of land by the national government, the Province of Flevoland, and the municipality of Lelystad. The museum is contributing to the design and is also engaging with people and organizations who care deeply about the story of Museum Batavialand through fundraising and sponsorship.
More information: Renovation of Museum Batavialand – Museum Batavialand