The Fries Scheepvaart Museum traces the maritime history of Friesland from the 17th century to the present day, with model ships, navigation instruments, paintings and a sizeable collection devoted to the Elfstedentocht — the legendary eleven-cities ice skating race that, weather permitting, traverses the Frisian lakes. The collection is housed in a handsome row of merchant houses on the Kleinzand canal.
The museum is more interesting than its size suggests, particularly the section on the historic flat-bottomed skûtsje sailing barges still raced competitively across Frisian waters every summer. A small silverware room shows the wealth that maritime trade brought to Sneek's merchants. Allow about an hour.