Into the Water!

Damen sponsors Te Water! exhibition at the Maritime Museum Rotterdam

On March 6, 2025, the Te Water! (Into the water) exhibition was opened by Dina Damen, Curator of the Damen Business History Collection Foundation; Annelies Damen, Chair of the Damen Business History Collection Foundation; and Rosita Girjasing, Business Director of the Maritime Museum Rotterdam.

The foundations for the exhibition were laid by a unique collaboration between the Maritime Museum and Erasmus University Rotterdam. For five years, at the Rotterdam Centre for Modern Maritime History, four PhD students researched the history of Dutch shipbuilding between the years 1870 and 2020. The findings of their research were to form the basis of the exhibition’s narrative.

As a proud main sponsor, Damen has contributed financially and also provided knowledge and historical source material from its unique archive.

"As a Dutch family business with almost 100 years of shipbuilding expertise, we attach great importance to keeping our rich history alive for both young and old," says Dina Damen. "By sponsoring this project, we contribute to the preservation and recognition of the Dutch shipbuilding industry, a craftsmanship deeply rooted in our culture and history. This attention is crucial at a time when we also need people who recognise how enjoyable and interesting it is to work in the sector.”

One of the PhD candidates, Richard Velthuizen, immersed himself in the history of Damen, conducting historical research under the supervision of Dina and her colleague, Tom Schreuders. Using secondary sources from Erasmus University, he studied books, brochures, and issues of the company’s internal newsletter Damen Nieuws (Damen News) to map the period from 1983 to 2020.

"It's a luxury to be able to conduct such extensive research in preparation for an exhibition," says the programme’s developer Frank de Hoog. "It demonstrates the value of this collaboration and allows us to share new scientific knowledge in an accessible way – exactly what we excel at as a Maritime Museum."

The exhibition offers something for everyone. Families can enjoy large, appealing exhibits, while maritime enthusiasts can delve into working models, technical drawings, and workwear. An audio tour, narrated by PhD students, brings the research closer, making it feel as if they are personally answering questions.

Children can actively participate in shipbuilding themed games, covering topics such as construction, propulsion, and logistics. The games are deliberately non-digital, so they discover the practical craftsmanship of the sector. For example, they have to determine which ship can reach a port, taking height, width, and draught into account.