Maritime Museum in Gothenburg, Bohuslan, Sweden | Museum

Welcome to the Maritime Museum, Gothenburg, Sweden. The Maritime Museum is one of the most popular sights in the city. The exhibitions show Swedish maritime history from the 17th century to the present. It is our aim to increase understanding of life in and on the seas. Here you can find something for all ages!  You can learn about the following at the Maritime Museum:  During the 17th century, Sweden enjoyed a period as a great military power and the government had ambitions to found overseas colonies. In 1637, the two ships CALMARE NYCKEL and FÅGEL GRIP, crowded with emigrants, left Gothenburg for America. They were heading towards the Delaware River to found the colony Nya Sverige (New Sweden). The colony only survived for 15 years, before being taken over by the Dutch. 

 The battle of Femern is one of the most important naval battles in Swedish history. The Danish navy was defeated, with help from the Dutch, in Kiel Bay, Germany. The Swedes not only defeated the Danes, but they also managed to capture ten Danish vessels.

The late 20th century saw a marked specialization in ship construction and shipping methods: refrigerated carriers for fruit transportation, oil-tankers, passenger ferries etc.  During the 19th century, the harbour underwent extensive change as more and more goods and passengers arrived in Gothenburg. The reed banks of the river were replaced by docks, dredging of the shallow river was also required.  Up until today, the harbour has grown in a continuous westward direction, to keep up with the continual rationalisation of goods transport methods. Container traffic is dominating and the vessels stay for only short periods at the dockside.