REMEMBER THE MAINE, FORGET THE BATAVIA

Cruised to Lelystad, a relatively new town, built in a polder (reclaimed land from the sea) and the site of the historic Batavia.  The Batavia was a ship of the Dutch East India Company (VOC). It was built in Amsterdam in 1628 and armed with 24 cast-iron cannons, and a number of bronze guns. Batavia, shipwrecked on her maiden voyage, was made famous by the subsequent mutiny and massacre that took place among the survivors. A twentieth-century replica of the ship, also called the Batavia, can be visited in Lelystad, Netherlands.  Thanks Wikipedia.

The replica of the Batavia was lovingly restored over a ten year period and is a worthwhile and interesting 'museum' but not for those who are wheelchair-bound.  There are loads of steep and narrow stairs.

The 'proper' museum rather than the ship itself is accessible and the film (now 20 years old) tells the story of the Batavia, then and now.  Available in English and Dutch.