Maas Inland Waterways Museum

The River Mass or Meuse through France, Belgium and the Netherlands is one of the most important inland waterways of Europe. Maasbracht became the largest inland port in the Netherlands. The museum tells the stories of the river and the Juliana Cana (completed 1935), shipping companies, the sand and gravel industries and pleasure boating. The changes in the navigation of the Maas are explored from early times to the introduction of engine-powered boats, exploring issues such as life on the river vessels and education for boat people. Artefacts on display include plans, photographs, objects dredged from the river and scale-models of barges, a shipyard, locks and a working boat lift. The collections were started in 1985 and came to their present location in a former bank in 2014. In the harbour, the museum maintains a ship’s wheelhouse with a simulator for visitors to try and historic vessels, including a sailing barge of 1889 and two tug-boats.