Amsterdam guided walk

The wreck of the Amsterdam is the most notable feature of the beach at Bulverhythe, the tops of its ribs being exposed in the sands and the peaty clay of the prehistoric forest. This large Dutch East Indiaman was run ashore in a severe gale on Sunday 26 January 1749. The Museum has artefacts from many ships wrecked in the English Channel from the Goodwin Sands in Kent to Pevensey Bay in East Sussex including the Amsterdam.
140 million years ago southern England was a landscape of meandering rivers, flood plains and lakes. Molluscs, fish and sharks inhabited the rivers and lakes, while the land was dominated by crocodiles and dinosaurs. Eventually layers of sand, mud and clay buried their shells, bones and footprints – which then became fossils as the sediments were gradually converted into stone.
The fossil display in the Museum includes a variety of local fossils from which we can learn much about the life forms and environments of Hastings 140 million years ago.

Timings

Friday 11 September:

18.45

Location & directions

Bridge Way, St. Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, TN38 8AP

Directions:

Parking is limited on Bridge Way, however the England Coast Path runs between Hastings and Bexhill and can be accessed at various points either side of the assembly point at the footbridge.

Contact on day:

john pinkerton

Telephone number:

+441424437452

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:

Pre-booking required

Booking conditions:

please email [email protected]

Booking contact name:

John Pinkerton

Booking email:

[email protected]

Booking website:

https://shipwreckmuseum.co.uk

Booking opens:

10 Aug 2026 12:00 AM

Booking closes:

11 Sep 2026 05:00 PM

Accessibility details

The footbridge is not suitable for people with limited mobility. The site of the Amsterdam is only accessible via a shingle bank.The beach will have pools of water depending on tide and weather conditions at the time.

Additional information

Please note the beach is ever changing and can be uneven for walking. Sturdy footwear is recommended.

Max number of people:

60

Estimated duration:

1 hour(s)

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