Did you sail in the Dutch Merchant Navy in the 1950s, 1960s or 1970s, and do you have any stories about LGBT+ culture onboard ships? For an oral history project, the National Maritime Museum in Amsterdam is looking for people who are willing to share their stories on this subject – anonymously if you prefer.
The museum wants to capture the important stories of gay, bi and trans crew members for the future. Perhaps you deliberately chose a job at sea at a time of exclusion ashore? Was the ship a place where you could experience your identity in a freer way? What culture prevailed? Were you among like-minded people?
If you can help us, we would be pleased to hear from you by 31 March 2022 at: oralhistory@hetscheepvaartmuseum.nl
Sara Keijzer, Niels van der Linden and Tim Streefkerk
Netherlands National Maritime Museum
More letters
Inflation information request
What is the Union doing for the members to bring pay in line with the inflation we have had over the last five years, particularly in the offshore renewables sector?
Seafarers overlooked on VJ Day 80
The UK government's 80th anniversary commemorations of VJ Day seem to have left out the Royal Navy and Merchant Navy seafarers who played such an important part in the Pacific theatre of war.
Catch up with old Clan Line colleagues
The annual Clan Line reunion will take place this year at the Liner Hotel in Liverpool on Wednesday 1 October 2025.