Shipwreck Museum
A Journey Through Maritime History and Sunken Treasures
The Shipwreck Museum is an independent charitable Museum of the Nautical Museums Trust Charity No. 284687 – set in the historic Old Town of Hastings, UK. The Museum has artefacts from many ships wrecked in the English Channel from the Goodwin Sands in Kent to Pevensey Bay in East Sussex including the Amsterdam, a Dutch East Indiaman of 1749 and the Anne of 1690 also the Charles II warship.
There are also exhibits of fossils found in the local area. We are a multi-sensory Museum with sound, touch and smell. The museum is fully accessible for wheelchair users. Admission is free!
Amsterdam Guided Walks
May
5
Jack in the Green 2025
Hastings Old Town
Join our experienced guides from the Shipwreck Museum who will lead visitors on a tour of the wreck of the Dutch East Indiaman, the Amsterdam (1749), the coastline, the 4000 year old prehistoric forest and the Cretaceous rocks from the age of the dinosaurs 135 million years ago.
Recent changes in wind and tide movements have resulted in a thick layer of sand and sediment being deposited over the wreck of the Amsterdam, thereby hiding most of the vessel from view.
The shape and contours of Bulverhythe Beach are constantly changing and it is to be hoped that the present situation will only be temporary but, until nature decides to once again reveal the Amsterdam and her fascinating history, there will be no further guided walks organised by the Shipwreck Museum.
Remember, these changes can literally occur overnight so keep an eye on this page as well as on social media as we will be restarting the walks as soon as conditions allow.
There are very few major, accessible historic shipwrecks around the coast of the British Isles. Hastings & St Leonards has two of them - the 17th century warship Anne and the 18th century Dutch East Indiaman Amsterdam.
We sell a variety of maritime and fossil gifts alongside a wide range of souvenirs, artefacts, toys, cards, prints and handicrafts, many made by local artisans.
The fossil display in the Shipwreck Museum includes a variety of local fossils including dinosaurs such as Baryonyx, Polacanthus and Iguanodon.
Schools & Groups
Find out more about arranging your class trip to the Shipwreck Museum
"Really great museum with lots of varied artefacts from the Roman period all the way up to the modern era. Run by friendly and enthusiastic volunteers who are more than happy to answer any questions."
- Sue W
"Brilliant little museum featuring information and displays on local shipwrecks, local geology, and fossils. Recent additions are two lifeboats - the Priscilla MacBean and the Cyril and Lillian Bishop."
- Mick Pelling
"What a great little gem in Hastings. Great museum and great displays. As well it’s free to visit. A volunteer was very kind and showed us some of the exhibits including a 4000 year old tree."
- Karl N
"Incredible museum for free and the volunteers do an amazing job! It is vital that places like this stay open to keep history intact - Thank you to the volunteers for the fun and educational discussions!"
- Dean
"This museum is a hidden gem, the staff are too! Tim was so incredibly friendly and educated us on the exhibits, he was so unbelievably lovely and devoted to his job, a true asset to the museum."
- Jessica P
"Wonderful museum full of history. It is free to attend but donations welcome. They have some amazing artifacts from shipwrecks and fossils found locally. Staff were very nice."
- April W
