Nationaal Reddingmuseum Dorus Rijkers, Maritime rescue museum in Den Helder, Netherlands
The Nationaal Reddingmuseum Dorus Rijkers is a maritime rescue museum in Den Helder that displays historical rescue boats, equipment, and documents relating to Dutch sea rescue operations across multiple exhibition levels. The collection traces the evolution of rescue techniques and vessels used to help people in distress.
The museum was founded in 1981 in a small shop building and moved to the former naval yard Willemsoord in 2003. This relocation to a renovated engine workshop provided more space and better conditions for displaying and maintaining the historic vessels.
The museum honors Dorus Rijkers and other Dutch maritime rescuers who dedicated their lives to saving people at sea. Their work shaped how coastal communities understood their relationship with the ocean and their responsibility to one another.
Visitors can participate in rescue simulations and virtual reality scenarios to understand how rescue operations work in practice. During the sailing season, daily boat trips are available to see the museum vessels in action on the water.
The collection includes operational vintage rescue vessels such as the 1927 Insulinde and 1941 Johan de Witt, which still conduct regular harbor tours. These boats are not museum pieces confined to displays but remain functional and could respond to actual rescue calls if needed.
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