
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
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.
The latest consequence of shortsighted policy-making
Having read the article about UK defence on your website, I thought it was spot on about needing to secure the future of the Merchant Navy if the government wants a defence capability.
Britain's WW2 government acknowledged Merchant Navy sacrifice
As you will know, this year marks the 80th anniversary of VE Day. I enclose a copy of a transmission, sent by telegraphy in May 1945, from the Admiralty to 'all ships', expressing the victory message to the Merchant Navy, from the minister of war transport.