Sea of stories

Water and dike

The water and the construction of the dike that changed everything: the Afsluitdijk. Villagers tell their stories. Over 600 objects in the exhibition come to life through a wealth of audio stories of the people living there. They provide an intimate glimpse into their daily lives and the culture of the Zuiderzee region. Theirs was a hard existence, dominated by the water and fishing. There were, of course, the fishermen out at sea catching plaice, herring and anchovy, but also netmakers, sailmakers, ship’s blacksmiths, basket makers and shrimp peelers on the mainland. Apart from the men, the women and children also worked hard to keep the household going and help provide a decent income. They are keen to tell you all about it!