Seaside Open-Air Museum

The Seaside Open‑Air Museum in Ventspils is one of Latvia’s most atmospheric heritage sites, celebrating the coastal life that shaped the region for centuries. Founded in 1954, it grew from a small collection of fishing tools into a sprawling museum that preserves the traditions of fishermen, sailors, and coastal craftsmen. Its most striking feature is the ensemble of authentic wooden fishing huts, each relocated from nearby villages to protect them from decay and modern development. A highlight is the working narrow‑gauge railway, a rare survivor of the early 20th‑century industrial lines that once transported timber and goods along the coast. Visitors can ride the small train through the museum grounds, experiencing a piece of engineering that once powered local industry. The museum also showcases traditional boats, including the sturdy coastal vessels used for cod and herring fishing. These boats reveal how communities adapted to the Baltic’s unpredictable waters. An interesting fact is that the museum holds one of Latvia’s largest collections of anchors, each telling a story of maritime trade and seafaring resilience.