Essential Information Type Exhibitions Location Queen's House Date and Times 10am-5pm daily | Closing 14 January 2024 Prices Free Book now Plan your visit to the Queen's House In the winter of 1672-73, two celebrated Dutch artists arrived in London. Willem van de Velde the Elder was renowned for his highly accurate drawings of ships and maritime life. He would even go to sea himself, paper in hand, to capture naval battles as they were raging. His son, Willem van de Velde the Younger, was a famed painter. From calm coastal scenes to fierce storms, his work captured the many moods of the ocean. King Charles II offered them a studio space at the Queen's House in Greenwich. Here they worked, creating royal commissions, magnificent paintings and tapestries, as well as thousands of detailed sketches, drawings and designs. Now, 350 years on from their first arrival in England, the Queen's House will once again become a home for the Van de Veldes. The Van de Veldes: Greenwich, Art and the Sea follows the journey of these émigré artists, and explores how they changed the course of British maritime art. Set sail for Greenwich, and experience the art of the Van de Veldes. Book free tickets ★★★★ J.M.W. Turner said that seeing a sea scene by Willem the Younger as a young man had 'made me a painter'. This show should bring the Van de Veldes a whole new generation of fans." The Daily Telegraph Inside the exhibition Exhibition highlight The Solebay Tapestry Discover the story behind the largest tapestry in Royal Museums Greenwich's collection Find out more Art in focus A Sea of Drawings Why do artists draw, and what can their sketches teach us about their skills and techniques? Take a closer look with the unique Van de Velde drawings collection Explore the collection Behind the scenes Conservation in Action Follow one of the most ambitious public conservation projects ever undertaken at the Queen’s House Find out more Image Who were the Van de Veldes? The Van de Veldes were two of the most sought-after marine artists in 17th century Europe. They were contemporaries of Rembrandt in the Dutch Republic, but were invited to live and work in England following the restoration of the monarchy. The pair were given a studio in the Queen’s House in Greenwich and a salary of £100 a year each to create drawings and paintings of 'Sea Fights'. Yet their contribution to English art stretched far beyond the war and politics of the day. The Van de Veldes are considered the founders of English marine painting, inspiring generations of artists including J.M.W. Turner. The National Maritime Museum has the largest collection of works by the Van de Veldes in the world. "The Van de Velde collection at Greenwich is remarkable not only for its sheer size but for what it reveals about how a 17th-century artist’s studio functioned," says Dr Allison Goudie, Curator of Art. "This exhibition celebrates this extraordinary aspect of the Van de Velde collection here, and the unique connection it now has with the Queen’s House, the location of the Van de Veldes’ studio for over 20 years." Behind the scenes From huge tapestries to tiny brush strokes, find out more about the conservation work that has made this exhibition possible. Tap to begin The Solebay Tapestry The Burning of the Royal James at the Battle of Solebay, 28 May 1672 is a highlight of the exhibition, and the largest work of its kind in the collection. However, due to its age, size and high silk content, it was in an extremely fragile state. Find out more about the conservation work that secured the tapestry's future. A Royal Visit to the Fleet One of the most ambitious seascapes of its time, A Royal Visit to the Fleet in the Thames Estuary was painted by Willem van de Velde the Younger in the 17th century. At almost four metres wide, the painting is one of the largest ever made by the artist. It depicts the meeting of King Charles II and his brother, James, Duke of York, on board the Prince in 1672. Since 2020 Royal Museums Greenwich specialists have been carrying out vital conservation work on the painting. This treatment will allow visitors to fully appreciate the Younger's skill. Find out more Plan your visit How to book The Van De Veldes: Greenwich, Art and the Sea is included as part of your visit to the Queen's House. Entry to the Queen's House is free, but you need a ticket to enter. We recommend booking online in advance, but walk-up tickets are also available at the main entrance to the House. The exhibition is open from 2 March 2023. When visiting our ticketing site, simply pick your preferred date using the calendar and then select the number of tickets you need. These will be emailed to you once you complete your booking. Book free tickets Eat and drink The Parkside Café is a bright and airy space right next door to the Queen's House at the National Maritime Museum, with expansive views of Greenwich Royal Park. There is plenty of seating, both indoor and outdoor. Grab a hot or cold drink, and a selection of sandwiches and cakes - perfect for a picnic in the park. Find out more Shop online Find the perfect gift for art lovers, from books and prints to royal souvenirs and keepsakes. Visit us on site or shop online. Shop online Find the perfect print Facilities and access Find useful information about facilities at our museums including cloakrooms, baby change and accessibility, and information for visitors with disabilities coming to any of our sites. Find out more Audio tour and exhibition guide Download a free exhibition guide to help guide you round the different galleries. A audio tour featuring an exclusive guide to the exhibition is also available for £5 when you book tickets. Download the free Smartify app to listen to the tour on your phone. Download the free exhibition guide pdf, 5.29 MB House closures Occasionally some room closures may affect your visit to the Queen's House. For full details of affected dates, click here. Tickets and Opening Free entry Book online 2 March 2023 – 14 January 2024 10am-5pm daily Greenwich Station Cutty Sark DLR Maze Hill Station Greenwich Pier View on map Directions via Public Transport Directions from your location Art that inspires Sign up to our newsletter to learn more about the art collection at the Queen's House, and be the first to hear about upcoming events and exhibitions at Royal Museums Greenwich. Sign up Shop the collection Discover gifts inspired by the art of the Van de Veldes and the Queen’s House Shop Exhibition gifts Shop art books, art prints, homewares, sketchbooks, and art supplies inspired by Van de Velde seascape paintings, and the Solebay tapestry displayed at the Queen’s House. Shop now Shop The Artist's Studio: A Cultural History £30.00 An exciting narrative and visual history of The Artist's Studio, examining the myth and reality of the creative space from early times to today... Buy Now Shop An English Ship in Action with Barbary Vessels (Custom Print) from £28.95 An English Ship in Action with Barbary Vessels by Willem van de Velde the Younger, 1678, oil on canvas. Throughout the 17th century, Barbary pirates operated along the North African coast... Buy Now Visit the Queen's House Art, architecture and sublime views: discover Greenwich's hidden gem today Visit the Queen's House Exhibition supported by the Pigott Family Royal Museums Greenwich Close Choose your tickets The Van de Veldes: Greenwich, Art and the Sea is open from 2 March 2023, and is included as part of your free visit to the Queen's House. Pre-book now by visiting our ticketing site and selecting your preferred date using the calendar. Queen's House Internationally renowned art Stunning architecture The Van de Veldes: Greenwich, Art and the Sea Armada Portrait of Elizabeth I Free entry Book online BOOK NOW Member tickets Free and fast-track Museums entry Priority booking Access using your membership card Membership card number required BOOK NOW Become a Member Unlimited entry all year Royal Observatory Cutty Sark Planetarium Shows Special exhibitions Direct Debit One-off Individual: £50 Individual: £60 Family: from £60 Family: from £70 JOIN TODAY