Updated in September 2026, this Curaçao Maritime Museum guide covers ticket prices, opening hours, parking, transport, accessibility and what to see.
The Curaçao Maritime Museum is a history museum in the Scharloo district of Willemstad, Curaçao, covering more than 500 years of the island’s maritime past. As of September 2026, the museum’s harbour tour is temporarily suspended because no ship is available, and its 2026 admission fees are listed in both Caribbean guilders and US dollars. Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website in September 2026, when this guide was last updated.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | “Almost every day” 10:30am–3:30pm; check the museum’s Google page for daily hours |
| Ticket prices | Visitor aged 12+ Cg 18.00 / US$10.00; aged 4–11 Cg 14.40 / US$8.00; under 4 free |
| Address | N. van der Brandhofstraat 1, Willemstad, Curaçao |
| Nearest transport/parking | Steps from the Queen Emma Bridge and cruise terminals; limited nearby parking |
| Typical time needed | 1–1.5 hours |
The Curaçao Maritime Museum opening hours
The official website says the museum is open almost every day from 10:30am to 3:30pm. It does not list which days are closed. It directs visitors to its Google page for daily hours.
Third-party listings show the museum closed on Sundays and Mondays, but these listings disagree on other days. Check the Google page before travelling. Basically, expect stereotypical Caribbean idiosyncrasies.
The Curaçao Maritime Museum ticket prices
Visitors aged 12 and over pay Cg 18.00 (US$10.00). Children aged 4 to 11 pay Cg 14.40 (US$8.00). Children under 4 enter free, and children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
Curaçao residents with a sedula (ID card) pay Cg 12.50 if aged 12 or over, and Cg 7.00 for ages 4 to 11. The guilder prices are in Caribbean guilders (Cg).
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in September 2026.
How to get to the Curaçao Maritime Museum
The museum stands in the Scharloo district, on the Punda side of Willemstad, close to the Handelskade waterfront.
The official site describes it as just steps away from the floating Queen Emma Bridge and the cruise terminals. Visitors on foot can cross the footbridge over the Waaigat and find the museum ahead. Taxis serve the area from the cruise terminals.
Parking at the Curaçao Maritime Museum
Parking is limited around Scharloo, so allow time to find a space. The area is compact, and many visitors arrive on foot from the cruise terminals.
How long to spend at the Curaçao Maritime Museum
Most visitors spend 1 to 1.5 hours walking through the museum’s floors.
The museum has no set tour route, so visitors can move at their own pace. Guided tours are offered, according to the museum.
Accessibility at the Curaçao Maritime Museum
The Association of Museum & Heritage of Curaçao lists wheelchair-accessible entrances and restrooms, assistive listening devices, Braille signage and accessible parking.
The museum spans three floors. The official site does not describe lift access, so call +599 9 465 2327 to confirm before visiting.
Inside the Curaçao Maritime Museum
The main exhibition fills the first and second floors. It follows 500 years of maritime history, from early explorations in the Middle Ages to the rise of cruise tourism in the 20th century.
Displays include nautical charts, ship models, navigation equipment and audio-visual stations. The exhibits also explain wider Curaçao history, because the island’s story is closely tied to the sea.
A renovated room on the second floor holds a model of the Curaçao oil refinery. It was built by the late Mr Vos, a former Shell employee.
The third floor covers the Dutch navy and its role in the Dutch Caribbean, using interactive audio-visual stations.
The museum occupies a building in Scharloo, part of Willemstad’s UNESCO World Heritage historic centre. The harbour tour on an original ferry is currently unavailable.
Practical visitor tips
| Focus | Tip |
|---|---|
| Timing | Arrive before midday, as the museum closes at 3:30pm. |
| Crowds | The museum is quietest when no cruise ships are in port. |
| Layout | The exhibits run across three floors, so allow time for the refinery model and Dutch navy displays. |
| Entry process | Bring US dollars or guilders, and children under 12 need an accompanying adult. |
| On-site logistics | Check the museum’s Google page for current daily hours before walking over. |
Frequently asked questions about the Curaçao Maritime Museum
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the Curaçao Maritime Museum suitable for children? | Yes. Children aged 4 to 11 pay US$8.00, and those under 4 are free. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for the Curaçao Maritime Museum? | The official site lists no booking system, so tickets need to be bought on arrival. |
| Is the Curaçao Maritime Museum open on Sundays? | Third-party listings show it closed on Sundays, so check the Google page. |
| Is the harbour tour running at the Curaçao Maritime Museum? | No. The harbour tour is temporarily suspended because no ship is available. |
| Is the Curaçao Maritime Museum wheelchair accessible? | A heritage association listing says it has accessible entrances and restrooms. |
Things to do near the Curaçao Maritime Museum
- Queen Emma Bridge — the floating pedestrian bridge across St Anna Bay, a few minutes’ walk away.
- Kura Hulanda Museum — a museum on the slave trade and African cultures, about a 5–10 minute walk away.
- Mikvé Israel-Emanuel Synagogue and Jewish Cultural Historical Museum — a historic synagogue and museum in Punda, about 10 minutes away on foot.
- Handelskade — the colourful waterfront row of Dutch colonial buildings, next to the museum.
- Fort Amsterdam — the historic fort area in Punda, about a 10-minute walk away.
Alternative attractions
- Curaçao Museum — about 5 minutes away by car, covering the island’s history and culture.
- Landhuis Bloemhof — about 10–15 minutes away, a historic plantation house with exhibitions.
- Curaçao Sea Aquarium — about 15–20 minutes away, with marine life and animal encounters.
- Fort Beekenburg — about 25 minutes away, an 18th-century fort guarding Caracas Bay.
- Museum Tula — about 40 minutes away, at Landhuis Knip, on the 1795 slave revolt.
