{"id":6960,"date":"2026-06-29T14:41:02","date_gmt":"2026-06-29T14:41:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hurgronje.nl\/drijvende-steigers\/"},"modified":"2026-06-29T14:46:00","modified_gmt":"2026-06-29T14:46:00","slug":"floating-jetties","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hurgronje.nl\/en\/floating-jetties\/","title":{"rendered":"Floating jetties"},"content":{"rendered":"

Anyone visiting the Stads- en Commerciewerf on Vissersdijk in Zierikzee will immediately notice the passion with which people here work to preserve Zeeland\u2019s maritime heritage. Volunteers restore historic ships, maintain old engines and are happy to tell visitors about the rich history of Zeeland\u2019s waters. Every year, nearly 10,000 visitors find their way to the Museumhaven Zeeland<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Museumhaven Zeeland Foundation was established in 1990 and is dedicated to preserving authentic types of vessels from the Delta region. With a fleet of historic vessels, a museum at the shipyard and a unique collection of ships in the Oude Haven, the foundation forms an important link in Zeeland\u2019s cultural heritage. More than forty volunteers contribute to this on a daily basis.<\/p>\n

Bringing heritage closer to the public<\/h3>\n

A key principle of the Museum Harbour is that heritage must be visible and accessible. That is why both the shipyard and the museum harbour are freely accessible to visitors. The board believes it is important that restoration work does not take place behind closed doors, but is instead visible to residents and tourists. In this way, visitors can not only admire the ships, but also learn about the crafts and techniques required to preserve these historic vessels.<\/p>\n

To further strengthen this public function, the foundation continually invests in the accessibility of its sites. The restoration of the floating jetties marked an important milestone in this regard.<\/p>\n

A new impetus for the Museum Harbour<\/h3>\n

For many years, the floating jetty in front of the shipyard on Vissersdijk was in a poor state of repair. As a result, it was not always possible to provide visitors with safe access to the ships moored there. This was a shame, as it is precisely the opportunity to view the historic vessels up close that makes a visit to the Museum Harbour so special.<\/p>\n

Thanks to the restoration and refurbishment of the jetties, this situation has now improved significantly. Visitors can once again safely admire the ships up close, gaining a much better appreciation of the craftsmanship, history and scale of these remarkable vessels.<\/p>\n

Accessibility has also been improved in the Oude Haven. The museum ships there are now more accessible, meaning that both locations together form an attractive and cohesive whole.<\/p>\n