A multi-sensory journey through the history of inland shipping, from the Stone Age to the present day, spread over three floors.
Discover numerous detailed models and interactive exhibits. The centerpiece of the former men’s swimming pool is the “Goede Verwachting,” a cargo sailing vessel from 1913 under full sail. The hall is dedicated to the history of water transportation on rivers, from the dugout canoe to the modern push convoy, as well as shipbuilding.
At the heart of the former women’s swimming pool is a walk-through replica of a river vessel, the popular children’s play ship “Hermann”. A key theme in this hall is life and work on board. The exhibition provides insights into the daily lives of sailors and their families both on and off the water.
Other topics covered by the museum include passenger shipping and Rhine romanticism, cargo handling techniques in ports, the history of the Duisburg-Ruhrort harbors, the German canal system, river engineering (including locks), and international agreements on inland shipping.
While most exhibition areas are easily accessible by elevator, the gallery in the women’s swimming pool can only be reached by stairs. For your convenience, wheelchairs and walkers are available for free at the reception desk.
