Tucked away on Hoogte Kadijk in the Eastern Docklands, Museum ‘t Kromhout maintains a living record of Amsterdam’s industrial and shipbuilding past.
The museum sits on the exact site where the first Kromhout engine was developed around 1900.
Two brothers originally ran a shipyard on the property, starting with steam power before shifting to internal combustion engines as the technology emerged.
A legacy of local engineering
By 1904, the firm sold its first engine, leading to rapid expansion and an eventual move across the water to larger premises in Amsterdam-Noord.
Before the Second World War, the Kromhout engine factory became internationally known for powering ships, trucks, and other heavy vehicles.
Today, the former shipyard serves as a dedicated museum showcasing working engines built between the early 1900s and the company’s final production runs in the 1960s.
Restored by dedicated volunteers
Run entirely by volunteers, the venue brings these historic machines back to life through live demonstrations where visitors can see, hear, and smell them in action.
Restoring the machinery often takes years of detailed effort. One prominent diesel engine on display arrived in loose pieces and required five years of weekly work by a team of volunteers to rebuild.
Because the venue relies completely on volunteer staff, opening times are limited.
The museum welcomes visitors every Tuesday and on the third Sunday of each month, when the historic engines are regularly started and demonstrated for the public.
